April 2014       

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Marni  - Vallejo Independent Bulletin - Daily Scream - Apr     |April.26.2014 Keep the posts coming it was handy

Julieta  - Vallejo Independent Bulletin - Daily Scream - Apr     |April.26.2014 Great to see that there are still helpful blogs out right here, thanks.

wharf rat   |April.26.2014 @ Chris and others check out this company http://sonic.net/company/ great service , great ethic and local !!

silasbarnabe   |April.26.2014 LOL! New Slate? Different from 1997 and 2001? I bring you the Jumpers...

Anonymous   |April.26.2014 re: "Too bad no one moved on it back in 1997 when it was first revealed, or again in 2000-2001 when it came to the forefront again." Past and present City Staff and City Councils should be held accountable ... strung up and crucified ... for this ineptitude. Agree that there needs to be a clean slate of NEW people at City Hall and City Council after this revelation. Vallejo could have avoided bankruptcy had insightful people back in the day realized what they had.

wharf rat   |April.26.2014 @ Chris Platzer Bravo good write up , yes there is great potential. When Mare Island closed the Fed was still compleating a vast fiber optic network installation. I have heard this is a robust system with huge capacity "not surprising considering the mission it supported" do you have any knowledge of it ? the Lennar built homes have fiber thus uber fast connectivity . Perhaps there are two fiber networks in Vallejo with capacity ?? .

@ Chris Platzer   |April.26.2014 I'm with Chris in seeing great potential (the "P" word!) in Vallejo's fiber optic cables & conduits. Thankfully, the City Council is FINALLY taking this seriously. Too bad no one moved on it back in 1997 when it was first revealed, or again in 2000-2001 when it came to the forefront again. Obviously if we had a rich investor things would move forward more quickly. That doesn't mean, though, that we should dismiss the possibilities. Relative to the Anthony parcel, it's too bad the family didn't try marketing the land with eyes towards fiber optics. I don't think anyone can claim that was done. As for proximity to the San & Flood plant, other biz park owners say that's not a problem. We're not likely to get the Apple HQ here, but we could well get back-end communications companies.

Toy G   |April.26.2014 I watched CC Tuesday Night. Might have yelled at my tv and Staff. I honor the right of all my fellow citizens to comment. Of course, even if I disagree and even if they resort to labels. Thanks.

Anonymous   |April.26.2014 Good morning democrats! What disasters are you cooking up for us today? Planning on spending 5 billion more in California? Heck, according to our local progressive democrats the medical and retirement benefits are not sustainable and are completely unfunded liabilities. Boy oh boy, you democrats are sure a confused bunch of people. Too bad you have so much political power, as managers you suck.

biz park history   |April.25.2014 Turns out the history on the Biz Park parcel was not entirely complete on Tues night. First, the Meyer Corp had owned that parcel, and sold it to the Anthony family in 2004 (at 10x the Meyer purchase price). While there was a chance that Meyer might expand there, I doubt anyone had a problem with the parcel being undeveloped. The Anthony family badgered the city into a permit for a self-storage in 2005. From what I hear, City staffers at the time felt that this took advantage of a loophole in the Policy Plan that allowed "ware-housing." Staff then issued the Policy Plan amendments to clarify that "warehousing" did not mean self-storage. Then -- the Anthony family didn't move forward on the permit while it was still current. They got 3 years of extensions, until they were notified in writing that they could get no more extensions. Why didn't the family get their project going at the height of the boom? Maybe because the family project manager is, um, eccentric, shall we say. Some say she's slightly (or a lot) crazy, but at any rate, ineffective. She went from DIY, to hiring day laborers, to finally hiring a developer, whom she fired. Then the Great Recession hit -- and the family then attempted to sell the parcel for almost 2x their purchase cost (bought for $1.1 million., listed for $2 million). So, the tales of the poor underused parcel didn't really tell the full story. Quel surprise. There's easily as much family ineffectiveness as anything.

ANONYMOUS:   |April.25.2014 TOY G: We must have watched a different CC meeting then you did. I am not in favor of a storage yard there, but I didn't hear the former Mayor say he favored the project, I did hear him say the Policy Plan adopted during his administration was not predicated on job generations or was that the intent, as stated by some members of the Planning Commission, what I heard him say was, in 1980 the plan was adopted to give the City the flexability to develop the area in a way that would benefit the City....what is wrong with that. He then proceeded to say that after 40 years of nothing, maybe we should consider something??? what is wrong with that. The Planning Commission is who is telling us what the intent was in 1980 and they weren't even here then, the former Mayor was giving us the intent then and he was part of the then decision. Who do I believe??? I am still not sure if I am in favor of a storage yard, but you are just showing your bitterness. Why pick on his brother???? for wanting the Chamber to help make the COV stronger financially, isn't that was the Chamber is suppose to be doing....I believe you are the same person that yelled the obscenity out when the former Mayor concluded his remarks, real classey...

Vallejo Heights   |April.25.2014 Thanks for pointing out all the reasons why this can't happen. Ever think of the reasons why it can?

JJH   |April.25.2014 @Vallejo Heights, I would love for that sort of infrastructure build-out to be feasible for Vallejo. Maybe it is possible, but I see a couple very big differences between Vallejo and your two comparison cities, San Leandro and Santa Monica. In San Leandro, the project is being financed by a local resident who also happens to own the software company that is one of San Leandro's biggest employers: http://litsanleandro.com/about-us/ In Santa Monica, the city funded the construction of the network: http://www.mrv.com/sites/default/files/case_studies/us_pdfs/mrv-cs-santamonica_new.pdf Here, there's no software company to drive the project forward and the CoV is in no condition financially to undertake this sort of project, so neither San Leandro nor Santa Monica is a realistic comparison. Getting back to the issue at hand, there's no reason that some entity can't pull more fiber when the right business opportunity arises, and that situation will not change with the construction of a self-storage facility on a rather ugly lot within sniffing distance of our sewer plant. It would be great if someone saw more potential in the land and was stepping up to make something happen, but that's not the case. I'm still with staff on this one. Oh, and if we want more business parks, this is the time to lobby for it: the general plan revision is happening.

rocketman   |April.25.2014 Guess Vallejo is trendy, with our own bullet-resistant Subway downtown at Sonoma & Virginia: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/04/24/bulletproof-subways-a-sign-of-violent-times/

Toy G   |April.24.2014 Vallejo Heights please tell this to msawicki@ci.vallejo.ca.us. He should know this, but after Tuesday Night he seems to have his head up his ass. Mark it is like leading the blind, but that is you Job. Speaking of Tuesday Night. Terry was there? Don't you just love it when the Big GOBs (DINOs in another skin) come out. Terry we would love for you to support Vallejo, NOW. Say Board of MI Museum? I have reached the age when I know that at least one-half of my experiences are invalid, you should learn this too. We should be available for History. Maybe we could be useful for preventing our current committed people from reinventing the wheel (maybe Not). But to have the gaul to present yourself, publically after you left Vallejo looking/spending like this, Yuch. To proffer you opinion is embarrassing. Same goes for you brother, what is up with him aiding and abetting Four (?) Chambers in Vallejo. Rich, inclusion is cool. They are here, get over it (all property will be just as valuable). Step aside. Actually, I do not know him, but maybe the Ingersoll(?)guy would be great as your replacement, the soon the better. Maybe he will have a better branding for Vallejo than, "Anything is better than Nothing". DINOs it is five o'clock somewhere, lets have a cocktail and reminisce. Yacht Club, with Vallejo's money, you buy the rounds?

Vallejo Heights   |April.24.2014 Yes, there is a gold mine buried underground in the form of a high speed state of the art fiber optic network! It was put in the ground through a federal grant to synchronize traffic signals. Every traffic signal is connected to this fiber optic network. Not only is there fiber under the side walks, there is conduit to pull additional fiber! The city is in the unique position of becoming a public utility that can provide high speed communications. By that I mean the COV could be a public utility that could sell bandwidth (e.g. High speed internet access at Gigabyte speeds faster that what is available from Comcast and AT&T at a 1/3 of the cost), cable and telephone. The possibilities are endless. The city could connect every public building, hospital, school and library. The city could provide wifi throughout the city. Every city surveillance camera could be on this network. Every water meter and water value could be on this network. Every low income household could be supplied with affordable high speed internet. Most importantly, technology companies could access high speed internet at a fraction of the cost, in terms of high speed bandwidth and rents, then is available in SF and Silicon Valley. If you don't believe me, look at what the cities of San Leandro and Santa Monica are doing with fiber!

Toy G   |April.24.2014 Note to Jump Backers. You did well. You did a great Job of parroting and puppetry. If this is your SOP for the rest of your Terms, why bother? Simply keep asking your Handlers for direction. Phone in your (their) Decision. No Meetings required,and do not read you "Packet" or asking Staff, what is the use? Gee, what a waste of Democracy. So now we will continue to be the depository of low income residences and low income commercial. The previous Council Majority would have never Voted like this or have allowed Staff to make Our Planning one big Pretzel. Please will not one of you Jumpers realize what will give Vallejo a Future? The answer is not with the People who have kept us down for a long time. Those who could care less about us, the Me (1%) people. If their Progress had been valid, Vallejo would not look, and be as it is today. They are wrong, and short sided, both do not make for a City with a Future. Why would any Leaders listen to them? We are back to our old Brand "Anything Is Better Than Nothing". Thanks Katy, Robert, and Glory Hallelujah, Thanks Bob.

wharf rat   |April.24.2014 @ Anon yes you are spot on , great example of the City Hall food chain .

Anonymous   |April.24.2014 Staff danced around the Planning Commission's question about how staff makes decisions...do they vote, caucus, how??? So let me clear that up for you. City Hall is hierarchical so that means the little staff people do exactly what they are told to do by their superiors. If that means tailoring the facts of burying key information on pages 199 through 210, they do it with a smile and lie through their practiced teeth when caught. Who made the decision? Look at the top to see who benefits. A huge one-time permit fee puts money into staff paychecks for awhile. And probably benefits a GOB friend of da mayor. Of course the Planning Commission is right, putting a storage facility on a prime site is STUPID from a long time planning perspective. But that assumes City staff takes a long view. They don't. So when the Finance Director says "the budget is all rosy", don't believe it because when staff chases pennies it does not bode well for the long term financial health of our community. But this was Standard Operating Procedure in the past and is again now that the Jumpers have regained control of the City Council. Those votes were all sewed up for the storage facility long before the actual vote and the Planning Department was just providing the rationale as they were told to do.

JJH   |April.23.2014 If there really is such great potential in making use of that fiber optic network node, someone should be talking with the property owner about it ASAP. Lots of development projects are approved but never reach fruition; if there's more money to be made utilizing that fiber optic access than there is in building a self-storage facility, it could be a win-win for everyone involved.

Anonymous   |April.23.2014 From the Fairfield Daily Republic newspaper and the Solano county District Attorney. Guy Jarreau Jr., Dec. 11, 2010 A group of teens were working on a music video outside a tattoo shop near Sonoma Boulevard and Kentucky Street around 3 p.m. The shop owner noticed that one man in the group had a gun and called police. Tribble drove to the shop and saw Jarreau, 34, leave the group and run into a nearby alley. Tribble followed him, repeatedly shouting for Jarreau to stop. Jarreau stopped, turned and flashed a pearl-handled revolver. Tribble shot Jarreau once in the chest, killing him. The officer had no choice, said a civilian witness seated in a car at the entrance to the alley. The witness said he was afraid Jarreau was going to shoot at him. http://www.dailyrepublic.com/featured-stories/probes-clear-police-in-recent-officer-involved-shootings/

Anonymous   |April.23.2014 From the Fairfield Daily Republic newspaper and the Solano county District Attorney. Guy Jarreau Jr., Dec. 11, 2010 A group of teens were working on a music video outside a tattoo shop near Sonoma Boulevard and Kentucky Street around 3 p.m. The shop owner noticed that one man in the group had a gun and called police. Tribble drove to the shop and saw Jarreau, 34, leave the group and run into a nearby alley. Tribble followed him, repeatedly shouting for Jarreau to stop. Jarreau stopped, turned and flashed a pearl-handled revolver. Tribble shot Jarreau once in the chest, killing him. The officer had no choice, said a civilian witness seated in a car at the entrance to the alley. The witness said he was afraid Jarreau was going to shoot at him. http://www.dailyrepublic.com/featured-stories/probes-clear-police-in-recent-officer-involved-shootings/

Anon   |April.23.2014 Wow, still ranting about that ridiculous "Guy" non-controversy. I guess you were unable to retain a decent lawyer? Or has your case already been kicked out? What an embarrassment people like you are. Very sad and typical Vallejo.

@ JJH   |April.23.2014 Regarding the fiber optics, as I understand, one of the big values is not just the optic network that is already in place, but also the conduit used to lay the network. Apparently that conduit could enable 20x the cables coming through, and since the work is already done, a company wanting to leverage that would have a huge cost advantage. Regarding which battles to fight -- I think some of this comes down to vision. Vallejo decision-makers and leaders have largely ignored the tech revolution -- and this is just the latest incarnation. Vallejo's fiber optics were first brought forward to the city in ~1997 -- and then highlighted again around 2001 (as I recall). All this time we've had a business park, next to a network node -- yet no one has thought, gosh, maybe we could attract a business with that. It reminds me of the phrase, if your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Many of Vallejo's leaders don't even think of the broader possibilities. So here we are, with a renewed interest in our own optics network, and an Econ Devt Director and Econ Devt manager who seem to have the goods to move us forward. Yet we allow the largest remaining open parcel in our only business park go totally low-tech, low jobs, low revenue -- without even trying to see if the parcel and network could enable a different breed of business. Disappointing!

Obama Not Welcome   |April.23.2014 "Obama Not Welcome": Filipinos Protest Presidential Visit -- Police armed with truncheons, shields and a fire hose clashed with more than 100 left-wing activists who rallied at the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Wednesday to oppose a visit by President Barack Obama and an expected security pact that would increase the American military presence in the Philippines. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/obama-not-welcome-filipinos-protest-presidential-visit-n87516

wharf rat   |April.23.2014 Well our Manchurian candidates did as programed last night . Too bad we are missing the big picture ,it goes beyond that one site . Soon the Kasier property will be available as will other areas adjacent to that major corridor (hwy 29) this could be a jobs and commerce corridor , mere minutes off hwy 80 . The planning commission got it right too bad the jumpers are beholden to special interest's .

JJH   |April.23.2014 Are we talking about the vacant lot at Sonoma and Solano? I don't know the extent of the fiber optic node at the site. If it really represents a big opportunity, someone should make that case to the owners of the property because they might be able to make a lot more money than they would with a self-storage facility. If, however, the installed fiber optic network infrastructure is only robust enough to sync traffic lights, as has been stated here, I have no problem with a self-storage facility going in on that lot. Has anyone looked to see what else is already there? To start with, there's a self-storage business at 501 Solano. This sets a precedent for that area. You're also within spitting distance of the fragrant premises of Vallejo Sanitation. No one is going to build high-end, Class A office space there. I'm with staff on this one -- let it happen. Sometimes I think people here could do a much better job of picking their battles. By opposing this, the council minority validates the idea that they are anti-business, and if they do that enough, they will be marginalized. (That label has already been used in attack ads during recent campaigns.) The big issue coming up is the General Plan revision, and that's worth fighting over. Not this.

Anonymous   |April.23.2014 @ not panacea Get a grip. Building on that parcel has not effect on the fiber network of utilization of the fiber.

@ not panacea   |April.23.2014 Geez, what do you have against arts & entertainment? Seriously! Regarding the fiber optic network, a couple clarifications. The network was put in place to enable Vallejo's traffic lights to be synchronized, and btw, it had nothing to do with the Navy, just for the record. Can the use of fiber optics co-exist with an art & entertainment district downtown? Why not? Does the network mean that downtown become a fiber optic hub? Maybe -- we don't actually know how or if we can leverage the network, but thankfully, finding out how to leverage the network is one of Council's top priorities. It doesn't have to be either fiber optics, or arts. Alas, the City Council decided to shoot its own foot last night vis a vis fiber optics, approving a self-storage facility in Vallejo's only business park, which incidentally, sits next to one of Vallejo's fiber optic hubs. The storage facility will cover the biggest remaining open parcel in the business park, which would be a natural destination for a company wanting to harness Vallejo's fiber optic network. Backwards, march! Vallejo -- too mired in the past to see the future.

Anonymous   |April.23.2014 @Not Panancea, re:"so what do YOU propose?" Didn't Councilman Robert McConnell at last night's Council meeting refer to the fact that downtown Vallejo has a huge underground fiber optic network that was left to us by the US Navy... totally unused and left sitting there all this time? And that at the Council goal-setting session at Cal Maritime a few weeks ago, the Council stated there that they want fiber optics to be primary in terms of economics and revenue for the City? So how does "arts and entertainment" do that? Is "arts and entertainment" dominating the downtown the best economic use of this gift horse to the city by the Feds? Does this so-called "Art Walk" and other activities center around The Hub make use of this high tech infrastructure gift horse? OR is the most appropriate business types to take advantage of this fiber optic gift horse in downtown Vallejo more like the kind of businesses you find in Silicon Valley and SF Financial District?

Memories   |April.23.2014 I promise, I won't stay away for so long, again! Also, the family of Guy Jarreau still needs that police report from the Vallejo Police Department...Where is it (It's been since 2010)?! The mother of Guy Jarreau still doesn't have it! Smile! And, justice for Guy Jarreau continues...

Memories   |April.23.2014 Hi, I'm back! Smile! Sorry I stayed away for so long...Another officer-involved shooting on last week, eh?! I wonder who were the officers involved? I hope not Kent Tribble! You do know who Kent Tribble is, don't you?! The officer who MURDERED Guy Jarreau in cold-blood on Saturday, December 11, 2010. It's interesting that the victim was transported to an AREA hospital for his injuries, but later died and Guy Jarreau was driven (in traffic) to an out of county hospital for his injuries and later died! Why was that?! Smile!!! We all know the answer to that question! Kent Tribble, you have BLOOD on your hands and WE won't ever let you forget that! And, justice for GUY JARREAU continues...WE are NOT going away until justice is served...Smile!

seeker   |April.23.2014 I'd like to go on record now in predicting that this mayor and the jump start minions will place us back on the path to bankruptcy. He just directed staff to add several more employees (on going expenses)to be added to Measure B funding (one time expenses)and even proposed eliminating projects (P to store away money so that the city can continue paying salaries after Measure B funds are exhausted! Vallejo's motto: one step forward and jump start back. SMH

Anonymous   |April.23.2014 And Jon Jon was there to remind them how they were expected to vote. Keeping the good old boys happy. Yup yup yup... On another note, who does emergency preparedness training via webinar?? Can't tell who is more dense. Roz or Hermie??

wharf rat   |April.22.2014 Looks like the jumpers are earning their keep , that land has potential for many beneficial uses with robust job creation. The planning Commisioners served their community well . Dr Shussel "needs to beware of open mikes".

yay, Commissioners!   |April.22.2014 How refreshing to see them stand up for themselves --and for a broader point of view than taken by Vallejo city staff!

Anonymous   |April.20.2014 The latest in a string of powerful world leaders against LGBT is none other than the Sultan of Brunei. Putin got away with the antigay law in Russia; Sultan of Brunei (owner of the Beverly Hills Hotel) to get away with Sharia stoning of gays in his country. So what will the United Democrats and Bayard Rustin do to "punish" the Sultan? ........ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2608965/LGBT-group-boycotts-Beverly-Hills-Hotel-owner-Sultan-Brunei-institute-policy-condemning-homosexuals-death-stoning

silasbarnabe   |April.19.2014 @Anonymous, Sadly I do not expect Paula or Robert to reverse their endorsements, but please know that there is a movement gaining momentum to create a new progressive movement locally. The jury is out as to which players will move over, or stay the course with selling out. Begging the question to those selling out, you cant ally with someone that bankrupted Vallejo schools, or others that bankrupted Vallejo and think that those followers will follow you with no thought.

Anonymous   |April.20.2014 Is this new movement going to continue the failure in the public schools where knife attacks are excused as "cultural differences". If that's your idea of a new progressive movement I think you've been smoking to much medicine. People are fed up with progressive failures.

silasbarnabe   |April.21.2014 Hello Dickie, Spending all the city's money on Police and Fire bankrupted us and stole all other money to be spent to help schools for example "crossing guards" "Police resource officers on campus", and the cutting back on "Library hours". So is it your belief that when we spent all our money on public safety that schools and everything else were better?

Anonymous   |April.22.2014 Oh, my mistake. You said progressives have a NEW movement underway. Thank goodness and just in time too! The country won't be able to survive the current progressive movement with gun running in the justice department, disastrous foreign policy, poison pill health care law, impeachable offences carried out by the executive branch targeting political enemies using the IRS, the first families abuse of tax payer dollars for private vacations and the disastrous school lunch menus dreamed up by FLOTUS. No time to waist Ms. Barnabe, get cracking on that "new" movement.

Paula McConnell   |April.19.2014 Artist Steve Davis just closed an art show in American Canyon. His work (California landscapes and bucolic scenes) can be seen for the next month at Java Jax Coffee Shop on Sonoma Blvd. near Georgia. Davis is a talented artist, and has had work in juried shows, and well known galleries. Congratulations Steve. You and all of our other great artists are making Vallejo proud.

No DuBain   |April.19.2014 I'm with you, Silas. You posted in the February scream that Paula & Robert should remove their endorsement of DuBain. I couldn't agree more. And, Mat Mustard should be fired for his attempts to influence the coroner's findings. Google Don DuBain, he seems to find more time socializing in SF. Funny he wants to be the Solano DA.

silasbarnabe   |April.18.2014 Thank You Paula for this months word on the street lite...albeit Peter Wilson, Erin Hannigan, and Verder Aliga...eeeew I need to take a warm bath every time I remotely associate with such disease, I hope that you and Robert do not fall for the selling out of GOB influence and money that creates such political filth as those you gave accolades to.

USA Not A Democracy   |April.18.2014 The US is not a democracy but an oligarchy, study concludes -- A new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities concluded that the U.S. government represents not the interests of the majority of citizens but those of the rich and powerful. "Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens" analyzed extensive data, comparing nearly 1,800 U.S. policies enacted between 1981 and 2002 with the expressed preferences of average and affluent Americans as well as special interest groups. The resulting data empirically verifies that U.S. policies are determined by the economic elite. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/04/16/The-US-is-not-a-democracy-but-an-oligarchy-study-concludes/2761397680051/

USA Not A Democracy   |April.18.2014 Scientists say America is too dumb for democracy to thrive -- Work by Cornell University psychologist David Dunning and then-colleague Justin Kruger found that "incompetent people are inherently unable to judge the competence of other people, or the quality of those people's ideas," according to a report by Life's Little Mysteries on the blog LiveScience. http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/03/09/scientists-say-america-is-too-dumb-for-democracy-to-thrive/?tsp=1

Jimmy W. Genn   |April.18.2014 Thanks Paula for all the great info. Steve L Davis's Art Show is at Java Jax (Crn of Georgia and Sonoma). Go Vallejo.

Temple Art Lofts   |April.18.2014 Vallejo, Domus recognized for Temple Art Lofts -- The Association of Bay Area Governments on Thursday awarded the city of Vallejo and Domus Development's president and co-founder Meea Kang with an Urban Design Award as part of its 8th Annual ABAG Growing Smarter Together Awards presentation. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_25591904/vallejo-domus-recognized-temple-art-lofts

Anonymous   |April.19.2014 "Arts and Entertainment" is NOT the economic panacea people think it is ...... http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-California/2014/04/18/Perry-Rubenstein-A-List-Creditors-Hollywood The Los Angeles Times reports that on March 17th, the relatively new Perry Rubinstein Gallery in Hollywood filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, leaving a slew of upset creditors and unresolved lawsuits in its wake. According to papers filed in California Central Bankruptcy Court, the gallery has assets totaling between $500,000 and $1 million, and liabilities of between $1 million and $10 million.

Not Pannacea   |April.19.2014 No one said it is a panacea..but it is a positive element moving the scale to the right direction. So what is your proposal? They may not succeed but I like them much better than naysayers who are doing nothing.

Anonymous   |April.20.2014 Look at this excellent write-up here concerning the risks of the American arts scene and bankruptcy, with recent examples included. Fact is, there never was a comprehensive report made to our City Council by City Staff at any time on the realities of having the majority of downtown buildings dominated by "arts and entertainment". Vallejo downtown simply cannot survive in this manner long-term. Muses in Bankruptcy Court: a look at US arts and cultural institutions finding themselves in bankruptcy and out http://itsartlaw.com/2014/03/28/muses-in-bankruptcy-court-a-look-at-us-arts-and-cultural-institutions-finding-themselves-in-bankruptcy-and-out/

Not Panancea   |April.22.2014 so what do YOU propose?

CalPERS Pension   |April.17.2014 CalPERS adopts $459 million pension rate hike -- CalPERS approved nearly a half-billion dollars in pension contribution rate increases Wednesday. The big pension fund approved a $459 million rate increase for the state, bringing the state's contribution to around $4.3 billion a year. The fund also approved a $55 million increase for school districts, to $1.12 billion. The state's higher rates will kick in with the start of the new fiscal year in July, while the schools' increase will begin in 2016. http://www.sacbee.com/2014/04/16/6330671/calpers-adopts-pension-rate-hike

JJH   |April.17.2014 Just came here to post a link to the same article! New contributions for cities will be announced this fall. Let's hope the council keeps the wheels on the road until then.

Mi Pueblo In Vallejo   |April.17.2014 Mi Pueblo grocery chain says it might have to liquidate -- Mi Pueblo, the popular and colorful chain of family-grown Hispanic grocery stores, has limited options to re-emerge from bankruptcy protection and faces the possibility of having to liquidate its 21 stores and abandon its 3,260 employees, the company says. http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_25586282/mi-pueblo-grocery-chain-says-it-might-have

Anonymous   |April.17.2014 gainful employment

Anonymous   |April.17.2014 Good point wharf rat and speaking of sewers, I see the corrupt Obama administration has rolled out it's latest election propaganda dressed up to look like a jobs training bill. More false hope for the exploding numbers of disadvantaged people in this country. People, don't let your young people grow up to think the world owes them a hand out. Skills are necessary but first come a work ethic. Without a strong work ethic, a good attitude and well spoken English, your child will not find game full employment. Do you live in taxpayer subsidized housing? Do you receive food stamps? Do you get financial assistance from the dwindling number of producers in this country? If so you must lead you child by example. Demonstrate for them a work ethic. Is there trash out in the street where you live? PICK IT UP! It's the very least you can do and it will show your child that you are not a pig and don't intend to live like one.

wharf rat   |April.16.2014 VIB don't put up with this Crap , period nuff said .. Nice try but Go The fuc* away, a Sewer might be Your best destination "birds of a feather" ,,,,,

Education Crisis   |April.16.2014 "Death Spiral" - Harvard Professor Predicts Up To Half Of US Universities May Fail In 15 Years -- Soaring student debt, competition from online programs and poor job prospects for graduates are shrinking the applicant pools for many universities and, as Bloomberg reports, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities warns "there will clearly be some institutions that won't make it...through these difficult steps." http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-14/death-spiral-harvard-professor-predicts-half-us-universirites-may-fail-15-years

Education Crisis   |April.16.2014 "Death Spiral" - Harvard Professor Predicts Up To Half Of US Universities May Fail In 15 Years -- Soaring student debt, competition from online programs and poor job prospects for graduates are shrinking the applicant pools for many universities and, as Bloomberg reports, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities warns "there will clearly be some institutions that won

Anonymous   |April.16.2014 Good morning democrats! How's it going? How much damage will you do to this great country today?

Liberals   |April.17.2014 I love liberals, these are the people that bring us such great ideas that are so wonderful that they have to have mandatory implementation.

Anonymous   |April.17.2014 I love them as much as you conservatives who bring us great fiscal policy that benefits the middle class, like the bank bail outs, environmental deregulation, retaining obsolete weapons platforms and coke snorting womanizing reps that lay claim to a moral high ground that would make masturbation illegal if they could and of course the greatest achievement of all corporations are people. Yes indeed conservative america is the place for you and me....

wharf rat   |April.15.2014 For anyone who grew up in the 1960's the old green leaf , or Mexican ragweed , that was the norm .. Flash back to today where hybrid genetically engineered strains have 50 times the narcotic component of the weed of yester year . Modern weed is truly a hard drug !! that makes the old Thai stick look like a Lolypop .. Anybody stoned on this "hard" drug is impaired , weather driving or just attempting to communicate .. They are wasted , period ..... time to put things in perspective ,, Stoned is Stoned ...

Anonymous   |April.15.2014 Using marijuana just once a week harms young brains: Study shows emotions and motivation affected -- The scientists, from Harvard Medical School and Northwestern University in Chicago, analysed MRI brain scans of 20 young cannabis users aged 18 to 25. They compared them to the brain scans 20 young people who never smoked the drug. Professor Hans Breiter, one of the researchers from Northwestern University said: "This study raises a strong challenge to the idea that casual marijuana use is not associated with bad consequences." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2605454/Using-cannabis-just-week-harms-young-brains

Blood Moon pix   |April.15.2014 Gorgeous! Thank you, Marc.

Anonymous   |April.15.2014 The Buchongo settlement had to do with the Glen Cove Redevelopment area. Under the law, Glen Cove was supposed to have 20% of the new housing subsidized. But the City blew that off and got caught. When they were forced to build it, they built it in the areas already saturated with subsidized housing and poverty...not in Glen Cove where it was supposed to be. A big chunk was built at Sereno Village making that census tract close to 40% subsidized and the final chunk in the downtown at the Temple Lofts. Vallejo has satisfied the Buchongo Settlement but that does not mean the VHA is done. The goals in their current plan include adding more subsidized housing for "disadvantaged" populations such as the disabled. Read the fine print carefully. "Disabled" under the ADA includes mental disabilities and all the social service agencies are busily helping the early release felons and homeless qualify. FYI, the RDA morphed into the VHA.

Anonymous   |April.15.2014 Thank you for the good information on Vallejo welfare housing and the explanation of the self serving city staff taking in toxic levels of poverty to pad their paychecks. Does anyone know the legal status of the Buchango settlement? How did the dissolution of the Vallejo Redevelopment Agency affect the settlement agreement? Thanks in advance.

Anonymous   |April.14.2014 HUD hands out two types of subsidized housing vouchers...the Housing Choice Vouchers commonly called Section 8...and the Project Based Vouchers. The HCV are handed to Vallejo Housing Authority clients who then go out and find a landlord that will take the voucher. The VHA gets a fee to preinspect the units for the investors who then can market on gosection8.com. The PBV are tied to Projects such as 201 Maine. Those vouchers are negotiated directly with HUD. BUT the VHA is responsible for on-going inspections and the Vallejo City Council approves the 55 year agreements with HUD. The VHA tells the City Council repeatedly that they only know about the HCV and NOTHING about the PBV. They lie; the VHA has all the numbers on the PBV by census tract; sometimes it is a percentage and sometimes a flat fee for inspections. The VHA gets money at every step. The CDBG money is handed out to communities that have high rates of poverty. So downtown PBV + HCV = 59% of all housing units * number of family members way exceeds the 30% poverty rate meaning more CDBG money flooding in from HUD. Heck, HUD sends money to the COV just because Vallejo is an "entitlement community" meaning "high concentration of poverty". So check YOUR facts. The COV is a vampire government.

Anonymous   |April.14.2014 The problem with the downtown is that 59% of the housing is subsidized by HUD meaning that it is occupied by extremely low income people with NO disposable income. HUD considers census tracts with over 30% poverty to be toxic. But we are told that the City signed all those deals with the HUD projects for 55 years. So everything that is being done is doomed to failure...according to HUD. This is like the contracts for public safety services, until we renegotiate those HUD contracts there is no hope. HUD does send lots of CDBG money from HUD to the City of Vallejo for "projects" to revitalize the downtown like all those planters and street improvements. The City staff takes a big cut of that money. So the dismal condition of the downtown works to suck HUD money that ends up in City hall staffers paychecks. I feel sorry for these urban pioneers. The last round of artists that came to Vallejo about 10 years ago and fixed up buildings with Buck Kamphausen's loans went bankrupt and Buck took over their fixed up properties. Those artists and urban pioneers lost everything. Who benefits when we rebrand Vallejo with rosy platitudes, innocent people believe it and move here to lose their shirts along with wasting many years of their lives? Vampires ...City hall included...that's who.

Check your facts   |April.14.2014 There are no city-owned HUD properties. None. City staff takes no more than 20% of any funding source, usually 10%, and all of those figures are set by HUD. CDBG does street improvements, sidewalk repair, senior lunch programs, homeless shelters, and other city-wide projects. Check your facts.

Anonymous   |April.14.2014 You're fired.

VHA-17   |April.15.2014 ok, taking 10% of HUD money and VHA has 17 people on the payroll...all paid for by this 10%..and how many people are served by these 17 people? How many police do we have? around 100? for how many people in Vallejo? 120,000? Yes, In order to pay for these 17 people. you guys are destroying the city.

Anonymous   |April.14.2014 The problem with the downtown is that 59% of the housing is subsidized by HUD meaning that it is occupied by extremely low income people with NO disposable income. HUD considers census tracts with over 30% poverty to be toxic. But we are told that the City signed all those deals with the HUD projects for 55 years. So everything that is being done is doomed to failure...according to HUD. This is like the contracts for public safety services, until we renegotiate those HUD contracts there is no hope. HUD does send lots of CDBG money from HUD to the City of Vallejo for "projects" to revitalize the downtown like all those planters and street improvements. The City staff takes a big cut of that money. So the dismal condition of the downtown works to suck HUD money that ends up in City hall staffers paychecks. I feel sorry for these urban pioneers. The last round of artists that came to Vallejo about 10 years ago and fixed up buildings with Buck Kamphausen's loans went bankrupt and Buck took over their fixed up properties. Those artists and urban pioneers lost everything. Who benefits when we rebrand Vallejo with rosy platitudes, innocent people believe it and move here to lose their shirts along with wasting many years of their lives? Vampires ...City hall included...that's who.

mmd spam?   |April.14.2014 I'm hoping that the mmd related council agenda isn't the cause for all the spam. I'm sorry to see this forum go silent, allowing the discourse in our town to fall to the standards of that firm that starts with a t and ends in an x... I thought our community was better than that. Morgan

not MMD-inspired   |April.14.2014 The spam started before the Council took up the MMD debate.

UK's NHS Gay Therapy   |April.13.2014 Despite the Government's stance against such treatment, the NHS is unwittingly funding gay conversion therapy. The most recent study on the treatment from the University of London suggests one in six therapists would be willing to offer it. The poll of 1,300 UK therapists found more than 200 practitioners had attempted to change at least one patient's sexual orientation, while 55 were still offering gay-to-straight therapy. With the help of the American conversion therapy movement, practitioners here, along with a clutch of international "conversion" organisations, are becoming coordinated and unified. http://www.express.co.uk/news/health/470158/Should-our-NHS-be-trying-to-cure-homosexuality

UK's NHS Gay Therapy   |April.13.2014 Despite the Government

UK's NHS Gay Therapy   |April.13.2014 Despite the Government's stance against such treatment, the NHS is unwittingly funding gay conversion therapy. The most recent study on the treatment from the University of London suggests one in six therapists would be willing to offer it. The poll of 1,300 UK therapists found more than 200 practitioners had attempted to change at least one patient

Anonymous   |April.13.2014 Maybe it is time for some independent Independants to win some seats. Republicans are too stuck in their regressive anti women, anti civil rights stance to win many of the seats the Dems will be losing. The Dems have shown their true colors. They are too bought by special interests, the "Free Market" idiots and public employee unions. No one should trust anyone endorsed by the Democratic Party machine.

Independent Voters   |April.13.2014 Field Poll: Independent Voters Oppose California Incumbents -- A new California Field Poll released Thursday reveals that in the aftermath of the corruption scandals involving three State Senators, the opinions of voters are turning against the performance of State Legislature incumbents. Democrats currently hold 55 seats and Republicans 25, a greater than two to one margin. But with 41 Democrats and only 16 Republicans up for election this November, Republican challengers now have a unique opportunity to pick up seats. http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-California/2014/04/10/Field-Poll-Independents-Oppose-California-Incumbents

Taxed To Death   |April.13.2014 Record-High 60% of Californians Say They Pay Too Much Tax -- Ahead of the April 15 tax deadline, a record-high 60% of Californians say that they pay "much more" or "somewhat more" in taxes than they should, according to a recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-California/2014/04/13/Record-High-60-of-Californians-Say-They-Pay-Too-Much-Tax

Pappa John's   |April.13.2014 So Corporate 1%ers Can't Afford Paying Employee Health Care Insurance And especially those in the public food service industry, very public as to fast foods. Remember this:?Papa John's CEO Says 'Obamacare' Will Up Pizza Price. The threats to the public and the low wage workers employed, cutting full time to part time and more. Workers coming to work even when they don't feel good, how about sick days to go along with Health Insurance, placing the public served in possible harms way from contracting an illness thus needing Health Care facilities themselves. Well this is what can happen: Manager at Charlotte pizza restaurant tests positive for Hepatitis Apr 11, 2014 - Health officials in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties are holding special vaccination clinics Friday afternoon because of a potential health risk in a Charlotte-area restaurant. A worker at the Papa John's Pizza at 8016-B Cambridge Commons Drive has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A. During a press conference on Thursday evening, officials said the employee was a manager at the Papa John's restaurant who contracted Hepatitis A while traveling out of the country. Doctor Marcus Plescia, Mecklenburg County's Health Director, said the worker returned to Charlotte, became ill and was hospitalized. Health officials say the employee last worked on April 7th, and was diagnosed with Hepatitis A on either April 7th or 8th. County health officials say they were notified Thursday morning, and started working with State public health officials. snip Mecklenburg health officials say they're concerned because "it's a pizza place so even more people are getting food there than your average restaurant." Jeremy Bell is angry. He said he and his family had a pizza night with food from that Papa John's. "And now I gotta to go to the doctor and take my family to the doctor" said Bell. "And no telling how many other people." County officials say they don't know exactly how many customers could have been exposed. It's estimated about 2400 orders were handled at that Papa John's during the time the infected worker was there. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/11/1291245/-So-Corporate-1-ers-Can-t-Afford-Paying-Employee-Health-Care-Insurance?detail=email

Good Morning Repugnants   |April.13.2014 I see your repub's new recruitment tactics are in high gear here on VIB. I imagine the high number of women, minorities and members of the LGBT communities are lined up to become members of your right wing extremists group. NOT! Maybe you should consider starting your own blog and maybe then you can find some like thinkers to join in on your "faux news" ideology. Have a nice day!

Anonymous   |April.12.2014 Good morning I Love Vallejo, just thought I'd check in with you and make sure you got a chuckle this beautiful day. Did you read the details on Al Sharpton and how he was caught trying to import cocaine into the poor black communities back in the 1980's? Kind of runs counter to the propaganda put out by you and your pals. Did you also catch "reverend" Sharpton, president obama and eric holder back slapping each other at Sharpton's grand dinner party the other night? Cool huh?

Anonymous   |April.11.2014 Mozilla's Prop. 8 uproar reveals much about tech, gay rights -- Mozilla officials said they tried to persuade Eich to stay and insisted that fewer than 10 of the company's 1,000 employees had called for his resignation in Twitter feeds or e-mails. However, in announcing his departure, the company said people are "hurt and angry" over the controversy and that it showed that "we haven't stayed true to ourselves." http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Mozilla-s-Prop-8-uproar-reveals-much-about-tech-5393875.php

Paula   |April.11.2014 Anne & Marc, thanks for the on-going summations after city council meetings. Articulate. Informative. Insightful. And shorter than sitting through a meeting. Thank you thank you.

Doug Baker   |April.13.2014 Paula, add my voice to yours in thanks of Anne & Marc attending Valljo's City Council meetings.

Anonymous   |April.11.2014 Times-Herald: Vallejo group pushes art to restore downtown Failure written all over this. City Council never received from City Staff a financial report with best practices around the country or world for that matter that says "arts and entertainment" is the panacea for rescuing anybody's downtown or city. If it was, Six Flags would have proved to be the answer already. No proof or evidence that "arts and entertainment" is the be-all-end-all for improving Vallejo's tax base.

Urban pioneers   |April.14.2014 Artists are the urban pioneers who often revive declining areas. They need affordable space, and are willing to tough it out in *helping* to revitalize an area. Can they be a panacea? Maybe not -- but do you have a better idea? Until the downtown has a nucleus of activity, no one wants to risk starting a biz down there. I think what downtown needs is an anchor activity. An adult school/community college and/or training campus could be ideal, as it would bring in an influx of people during the day. Vallejo missed an opportunity when they let Solano College open on Columbus Parkway. That campus would have been better placed downtown. FYI -- Six Flags is not the sort of business that would help turn a struggling urban area around. Six Flags is corporate, and as we have seen in their wanton disrespect of Lake Chabot, they are not community-oriented.

Anonymous   |April.11.2014 It should be very clear to all that this current administration has serious ethical issues. Progressives that are honest, well educated and clear thinking understand that Richard Nixon was removed from office for far less heinous acts concerning the IRS compared to what has happened in the last few years. Do you all realize that the IRS, acting in concert with top democrat leaders and the White House coordinated the release of personal information of political enemies? This is the exact same thing Nixon and his team requested of the IRS, however, the IRS commissioner at that time had the integrity to say NO! Look how far we've fallen in terms of quality leadership and the rule of law. Rabid progressive political types are willing to sacrifice the Constitution of the United States for some short term ill gotten political games. Sad, very very sad.

wharf rat   |April.10.2014 @ rocketman a high colonic might be just the thing for you .

Chick-Fil-A   |April.10.2014 10 Reasons To Be Excited Chick-fil-A Is Going National -- Chick-Fil-A is expanding into New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The chicken chain, which now outsells KFC despite having a fraction of the locations, is popular for many reasons. We chose a few reasons to be excited that Chick-Fil-A could be coming to your city soon. http://www.businessinsider.com/chick-fil-a-is-expanding-into-cities-2014-4

Anonymous   |April.10.2014 White House pay gap twice as large as pay gap in the District of Columbia The pay gap among women in the White House is more than twice as large as the average in the nation

Fantasy island   |April.10.2014 Oh rocket-man and right-wing-fauxnews-repeaters, you make me smile each and every morning that you come here to post your propaganda and fear mongering. Just let's me know we are on the right track to win big in 2016. #proudprogressive

rocketman   |April.10.2014 Eric Holder is certainly a disgrace, but when he dragged the name of the President into his race-baiting game, it went rather too far. But we are dealing here with a criminal enterprise known as the White House. The good thing is that it is beginning to appear that all of this lawlessness may be coming to an end, as desperation is showing its inevitable head among these jokers. From the repeated lies by the President, to the desperate racism of the Attorney General of the United States--well, of black America perhaps--the juggling of so many scandals, ethical lapses and violations of the law, these frauds seem to be finding it increasingly difficult to hold it all together. And you can be assured that when the dam bursts, it will be like nothing ever seen in this country before. This Presidency is historic, to be sure, but not for the reasons being kited by the liberal Progressives. It is an historic collapse.

I love Vallejo   |April.10.2014 Good Morning Republicans, What group of people are you discriminating against today? This week you have been busy little bees working against equal pay for women. Methinks that if you continue alienating Women, Gays, Latinos, and poor Americans we Democrats will be assured of victory at the polls once again. Keep up the good work!

Anonymous   |April.10.2014 Have any of you been following the disgraced Attorney General of the United States. He's the only sitting Attorney general in American history to be held in contempt of Congress. His latest ridiculous excuse for his acts of malfeasance is to blame race. Eric Holder is saying to all young and impressionable black people in this country that crimes and errors in judgement for blacks can be excused because of race. Can you believe the ignorance, greed and stupidity that continues to stalk African Americans? It's despicable and it comes from people who put themselves up as black leaders. Shameful and immoral. http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/eric-holder-strays-from-planned-remarks-105567?hp=r4

Anonymous   |April.09.2014 Good morning democrats! What disasters are you planning today? Another high speed train? More taxes? Give us a hint.

tramky   |April.08.2014 Fascism?! More to the point is McCarthyism. Let's see if Mozilla is prepared to really go along with the cut-and-burn tactics of the gay-rights activists. I, for one, will be moving away from Firefox as my Web browser of choice. An employee revolt over a $1000 contribution to support a voter initiative in California that passed with a significant margin. Remember, Prop 8 was overturned by one judge at the outset. The idea that one judge--a member of the judiciary--can dismiss and overturn the will of the PEOPLE in America should give EVERYONE pause. From a personal view, I don't care about this issue. It's my preference that government get OUT of the marriage business altogether--and away from the marriage-related tax complexities. With the judicial demise of Prop 8 and all similar state votes across the country, and all the judicial nonsense that surrounds marriage, it has devolved to the point of societal irrelevance. Governments should NOT be involved with irrelevance. Marriage should revert to the 'social contract' that is is, not as the legal & monetary monstrosity it has become.

Toy G   |April.08.2014 VPD Open House. I had a Time Conflict, I hear it was a great Event. Gee, we could hire more police and fire persons, if the Public Service Unions (Not union basher, my Family is Union)would realize that the Promises are from their Bought City Councils. These Councils danced with the Ones that Bought Them. Not a Promise, which entails a possible occurrence, a Certain Bought Foregone Conclusion. 2014, across America, Public Entities realize they cannot fulfill these pre-determined "Promises".

VIB under attack?   |April.07.2014 Obviously someone does not like VIB and try to water down the content. Is there an investigation on this?

Anonymous   |April.06.2014 re: "Good morning you beautiful little gay activists. I read where you and your "tolerant" supporters have ousted a man from his job in Silicon Valley." Mozilla CEO faced 'new fascism,' Gingrich says http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/202764-mozilla-ceo-faced-new-fascism-gingrich-says

Beer Legislation   |April.06.2014 Mare Island Brewery Company better pay attention. It could happen here in California .. Bill would require Florida craft brewers to sell beer to distributors, then buy it back for resale http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/03/bill-would-require-florida-craft-brewers-to-sell-beer-to-distributors-then-buy-it-back-for-resale/

For All The Ladies......   |April.06.2014 This Dress Becomes See-Through When It Detects The Person Wearing It Is Aroused http://www.businessinsider.com/see-through-tech-dress-2014-4

Anonymous   |April.06.2014 The dying gasps of progressive politics on display here. Advocates for progressive communism, progressive socialism and progressive governance now have reached the end of their intellectual argument. The tortured progressive souls have been reduced to posting gibberish in a last failed attempt to avoid the harsh reality of their failed policies. You and your leaders are failures but unfortunately for the rest of us, millions of Americans will suffer the consequences of your foolishness.

Mormons On Gays   |April.05.2014 Mormon leader outlines opposition to gay marriage -- "While many governments and well-meaning individuals have redefined marriage, the Lord has not," said Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve. "He designated the purpose of marriage to go far beyond the personal satisfaction and fulfillment of adults, to more importantly, advancing the ideal setting for children to be born, reared and nurtured." In the October 2013 church conference, Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum said human laws cannot "make moral what God has declared immoral." The church sent a letter to local leaders that includes that message, Andersen said Saturday. "As the world slips away from the Lord's law of chastity, we do not," he said. http://www.sfgate.com/news/us/article/Mormon-leader-outlines-opposition-to-gay-marriage-5378863.php

Try to reach Editor   |April.05.2014 Is VIB.EDITOR@GMAIL.COM the correct email for Marc? I tried to contact him using this email a few days ago and have not received any ack.

Anonymous   |April.05.2014 Good morning you beautiful little gay activists. I read where you and your "tolerant" supporters have ousted a man from his job in Silicon Valley. You must be very proud of yourselves this day. Emulating the great communist and fascist leaders seems to be one of your talents. What will you propose next? Reeducation camps for all who believe differently than you?

Anti-Gay Doantions   |April.04.2014 Anti-gay-marriage donations are rare in the Valley -- Google had the strongest number of donations that opposed Proposition 8, with 341 employees donating more than $350,000 to oppose it. That means 97 percent of Google Proposition 8-related donations went opposed the ban. Intel, on the other hand, had the most donations of those companies supporting the gay marriage ban: 60 percent of the employees who made donations gave in support of Proposition 8. They also far outspent their ideological opponents at the company, donating about $81,000 compared to about $10,000. http://blog.sfgate.com/techchron/2014/04/04/anti-gay-marriage-donations-are-rare-in-the-valley/?cmpid=hp-hc-bustech

ObamaCare Penalty   |April.04.2014 The Affordable Care Act requires most Americans to have health insurance in 2014, or pay a penalty of $95 per adult or 1% of their adjusted gross income, whichever is greater. Those penalties increase in future years. http://www.latimes.com/business/healthcare/la-fi-mo-obamacare-penalty-20140401,0,1930540.story

Vatican On Steriods   |April.04.2014 Pope Francis To Usher In Vatican 3D TV Transmission At Unprecedented Canonisation Ceremony -- The unprecedented double canonisation event will be produced in 3D by the Vatican TV Center (CTV) in a partnership with Rupert Murdoch's Sky Italia, BSkyB and Sky Deutschland payboxes, and Sony. The ceremony will also be beamed into 3D movie theatres across Europe and in North and South America, in what is being touted as the first convergence of HD, 3D and 4K technologies for such a high-profile multimedia 3D event. http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/pope-francis-to-usher-in-vatican-3d-tv-transmission-at-unprecedented-canonisation-ceremony-1201150306/

Anonymous   |April.04.2014 Federal indictment issued against Sen. Leland Yee, 'Shrimp Boy,' others -- A federal grand jury has issued an indictment against state Sen. Leland Yee, Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow and 27 other defendants targeted in a wide-ranging FBI investigation into drug and weapons trafficking, money laundering, public corruption and murder for hire. http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_25494141

Anonymous   |April.03.2014 Good morning democrats. Well, I'm just a little embarrassed for you this day. When I read what one of your kindred spirits wrote yesterday, mocking like a child, I realized it is a painful exercise to expose the soft underbelly of ignorance. Painful yes but necessary I'm afraid. I read where your democrat leader Al Gore is suffering from an inferiority complex and now is making plans to release a sequel to his movie An Inconvenient Truth. Do you remember An Inconvenient Truth? This was a propaganda movie that you and your fellow democrat leaders placed in schools all across this country. Millions of young, innocent children were terrorized by images of hurricanes, floods and natural disasters courtesy of Al Gore and Hollywood computer generated graphics. A tour de force in propagandizing and brain washing on little children. Your efforts to create an entire generation of loyal subjects, sadly, are proceeding a pace. It wasn't enough for you to destroy families with handouts, your sights are set much higher now. I wish you bad luck in your endeavors. Lets hope the worlds educated and free peoples will see through your propaganda and reject your brand of ignorance.

Firebug   |April.02.2014 @SS, But the vote to make bribery legal was not done by liberals.

Salty Scheptic   |April.02.2014 You need go no further than California to recognize that political corruption is not party specific.

Salty Conservative   |April.02.2014 How about, the discussion over man made global warming, the extinction of polar bears due to evil capitalists, and the disappearance of the Malaysian jet can be blamed on man made warming...isn't over. In fact, just beginning and will continue as long as science remains outside political agendas.

I love Vallejo   |April.02.2014 whoops i typed my name too fast and missed an L heh heh

I love Valejo   |April.02.2014 Good morning Republicans. What scheme are you about to unleash on us today? Maybe it will be to deny the working poor the opportunity to vote, or you might cook up a way to trample on women's right to choose. You can build a fence to keep foreigners out or maybe give police the right to stop any Mexican looking individual driving in your neighborhood to check their papers. I know, you can pass legislation denying two loving individuals from marrying each other or work out a way that the 1% can hold on to their billions by giving them another tax break. Come on, give us a clue. What foolish and/or unconstitutional scheme will be next?

Anonymous   |April.02.2014 Good morning democrats! What disaster are you cooking up today? Are you laying plans to destroy another major sector of our economy? Do you have anymore cockamamie schemes to foist off on an unsuspecting public? More gun control for law abiding citizens? Increase taxes on the dwindling middle class workers? Come on, give us a clue. What foolish and/or unconstitutional scheme will be next?

Anonymous   |April.02.2014 Study: Civil servant system outdated -- The federal government is headed for a crisis, a new report warns, and without reforms, a homegrown problem threatens to derail everything from foreign policy, to entitlements, to food safety. The problem is the way the government manages its more than 2 million civil servants, according to a report from the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service and government consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/study-civil-servant-system-outdated-105257

Anonymous   |April.01.2014 The Unbelievable Story Of How An Anti-Gun Politician Ended Up Arrested For Alleged International Arms Dealing -- In an affidavit filed in federal court on March 23, FBI special agent Emmanuel Pascua detailed how the investigation into Chow led to Yee's arrest on political corruption and gun-trafficking charges last Wednesday. It's an incredible saga that includes purported links to Chinese organized crime, a crooked political consultant, Eastern European arms dealers, and Muslim rebel groups in the Philippines. http://www.businessinsider.com/leland-yee-2014-4

Outrageous Salaries   |April.01.2014 New York City Chancellor Carmen Farina oversees more than a million students, 1,700 schools and a budget the size of many states. Her pay: $412,193. Los Angeles Unified Supt. John Deasy has 1/2 million students, 1,000 plus schools, and a $7 billion budget: Salary is $393,106 last year. BUT CHECK THIS ONE OUT: Supt. Jose Fernandez' South Bay school district has 6,600 students- 5 high schools and a $70 million budget. HIS SALARY: $674,559 last year. A part of this salary included the school district giving Fernandez $230,213 to purchase more seniority in the state retirement system so he would receive a higher annual pension. He's being asked to give some $$$ back. The article is in the LA Times on 3.31.14.

Outrageous Salaries   |April.01.2014 New York City Chancellor Carmen Farina oversees more than a million students, 1,700 schools and a budget the size of many states. Her pay: $412,193. Los Angeles Unified Supt. John Deasy has half a million students, 1,000-plus schools, a $7-billion budget

Anonymous   |April.01.2014 The Source of Black Poverty Isn't Black Culture, It's American Culture -- Americans don't want to imagine that our racist history is actually an ongoing, racist reality. We like to look at racism as a thing that has gotten better (if not gone away completely) and that the way black Americans are treated in society is actually colorblind. So, if forced to pick between the idea that our country's structures and systems are biased toward white people or the idea that black communities are flawed, many pick the latter. Some doing so, of course, because they're racist. http://news.yahoo.com/source-black-poverty-isnt-black-culture-american-culture-141630375

Anonymous   |April.01.2014 Martin Armstrong Warns This Is The Age Of Civil Unrest -- All governments had better open their eyes for we are on the brink of a major convergence between both the Cycle of Civil Unrest, Civil War & Revolution and International War. Both of these models converge and as I pointed out at the Cycles of War Conference, this is the first time we have seen this convergence since the 1700s. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-31/martin-armstrong-warns-age-civil-unrest

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