Anonymous   |March.02.2009 Can we have this discussion in the "March" Scream?

VHS   |March.02.2009 I agree Silas. My experience with the water dept. over the years has been frustrating. In my opinion their software system on the billing side has critical flaws. The thing I want to know is if the water dept. understands how their operating costs are tied to delivery volume and if so what is it. There should not be an eight percent rate hike for an eight percent volume reduction. Some costs should go down with decreasing deliveries.

silasbarnabe   |March.02.2009 Well it is no surprise but in today's Times Horrid there is an article about raising water rates again. Water Superintendent Nugteren said that Vallejoan's have reduced water usage an average of 8 percent, so this loss in revenue has caused him to come before the Council to ask for higher rates. I remember when he came before the Council in 05 and said the reason rates were increasing so dramatically is that he wanted to be sure he wouldn't be coming back before the Council to ask for more increases, well "he's back". I wonder if he realizes the reason there was an average reduction of 8 percent water usage because of the high rates as they exist. I know many retirees that have let there gardens and lawn turn to weeds. Nugteren claims that if the city gets mass letters of protest he won't raise the rates, I am wonderign if perhaps we should draft a letter here and have folks send the template to City hall. My concern is the lack of concessions from IBEW water workers in their contract and why are the rate payers subsidizing extravagant employee comnpensation including fully paid medical benefits. If our rates are being raised in an economy with over 10 percent unemployment I think the workers should share the pain with the rate payers.

Charlie   |March.01.2009 It's funny that this person says the CM runs the city like the city council tells him to. I suppose the term "running into the ground" has escaped this person. But, I would have to agree, that is exactly what this city council with their ill witted, dumb founded 5-2 votes has done. Run this city into the ground.

To ANONYMOUS   |March.01.2009 I will make the decision to NOT vote for your f'd up tax increases to pay for your f'd up decisions. I have never felt so compelled to get involved to change something like voting out council members, even when this city has had equally bad ones sitting on the council. But, I am, as well as others, are so sick of the disregard for the taxpayers in this city that I will be very involved in seeing that Bartee and Sunga are NOT re-elected. Keep hoping for apathy until the truth comes and smacks you upside your lying heads and you have no where to go on Tuesday night.

Truth Teller   |February.28.2009 Someone mentioned the name Larry Asera in a post. You mean the same Larry Asera who tried to bring that nasty LNG project to our town? Isn't he the same Larry Asera who pledged money to the Empress and NEVER PAID? Must be the same loser since he's been blowing something to make Bartee think he's something other than a loser. Ah loser to loser, priceless.

Smack   |February.28.2009 Hey ANONYMOUS, I call you out as being Osby. How would I possibly know this? Your arrogance. What makes me say that? Your tone, i.e. "The CM job is to run the City the way the Mayor and Council tell him too...it is what his Board or Employer tells him it is !!!" (insert foot stamping here, Drama Queen) and "...so far all you have been able to do is keep bringing you flunkies down to the Council meetings and laugh and berate, but the majority of the Council, who were elected by the majority of the citizens...". I won't EVEN go into the mangled English language and spelling. Tsk, tsk. Let me remind you, you won by ONE VOTE and even that is questionable. So shut up with the majority, that argument doesn't work for you. And the other puppets up there? They won by the sheer volume of $'s pumped into their campaigns (don't ya remember those cheesy Wilson-in-rigormortis ads?) by their PSU masters aided and abetted by a sycophantic newspaper. The same newspaper which slathered on praise to the unworthy PS'ers while suppressing the real news that the FF "leaders" were STEALING our money to party all night. Doesn't THAT offend your Christian sensibilities? Let me say that the lack of leadership qualities found in the "Christian Lawyer Specializing in Evictions" (which just begs the question, "Who Would Jesus Evict?" - especially in the role of mayor (small m intentional) is worthy of being laughed at. Is worthy of berating because with your massive ego and the funded four's deafness we have FIVE morally bankrupt 'representatives'. Check Mate, I predict you will lose on this unless you suddenly come to an epiphany that your backside will be toast FOREVER MORE in this town if you let this one Touro thing slip. And dude, "...there is another world out here that you know nothing about" couldn't be truer words for you. Thanks for supplying it.

On Fire   |February.28.2009 Exactly Silas. Keeps them safe from having to debate the issues. Especially when they are only sock puppets. Then you have those who think that we live in some void and have no capacity to be in communication with the rest of the city. If they really think that the so called "VIB'ers" are such a small minority, you would have to wonder why they are so busy keeping up with what we have to say on this site.

silasbarnabe   |February.28.2009 Onfire, The PSU's definition of false information is "if you do not agree with them" your info is false.

On Fire   |February.28.2009 And ano, since you seem to be "up on the facts" tell me exactly what was in my post that "produced false information". As far as your assessment to "my feelings" on how the votes go on Council, when the gang of 5 start making decisions that are in the best interest of the citizens of Vallejo, I will be more than glad to comment on it. But since your mayor appears to only care about the concerns of the people that support his position, I doubt that I will be making that comment anytime real soon. As far as my calling them names, I think they are appropriate. My opinion is, is that this gang of 5 is burying the city. I am angry that they think they can do as please with out tax dollars and then think we should make up for their ineptitude with making me pay even more taxes. For that, I will call them anything I darn well please. As far as flunkies? Let me help you out here, again: pl. flun�kies also flun�keys 1. A person of slavish or unquestioning obedience; a lackey. 2. One who does menial or trivial work; a drudge. 3. A liveried manservant. I speak and act of my own mind, not like the servants of the unions (commonly known as the funded four). I don't consider any of the work I do in the community as menial or trivial, and I have never worked in the capacity as a manservant. Liveried or otherwise.

Angry Taxpayer   |February.28.2009 Anon, what you and Ozzie seem to forget is that we live in a democracy. And as such, we have the right to disagree with those who are supposed to be representing us. When we feel that those we elected to represent us are representing their campaign donors and not we citizens, we have a right to speak out however we want, whenever we want, however we want. Just because we elected the Council, doesn't mean they don't have to listen to the public until the next election cycle. I'm sure Ozzie doesn't feel he has to represent people like us who didn't vote for him, but he does. He now represents all of us, and showing disdain and contempt for us is a slap in the face of of our democracy.

On Fire   |February.28.2009 Anon, before you start commenting on what I said, I suggest you go back and read what I said. There was nothing in what I said that could be construed as "advice" to bartee, I know how the Charter reads, and all the rest of your assessment of the relationship between the CM, Council and the voters, is just about what was in my post. I didn't think I sounded confused as to how the council members were elected? My point is that there are other forces/special interest groups that are driving the council majority, and the best interest of the city is not high on their radar right now. Try using the pointer as you read each word the next time through.

Streetsweeper   |February.28.2009 On Fire, ok maybe I do not know what his day to day duties are but I just have not seen anything positive with his name on it. The one point I was trying to make is even if fire was to get another 10% pay cut on top of the 6.5% they took they would still make over 200k because of the OT. So if you folks want to stop having to see that salary list every year that outrages all of you the OT has to be dealt with. Also I think you theory on Sandy and the mayor makes sense. The union reps I have talked to say she is much worse than Joe.

ANONYMOUS   |February.28.2009 ON FIRE; before you start giving bartee advice, maybe you should read the Charter for once. The CM job is to run the City the way the Mayor and Council tell him too. Thats it no debate. You ask "what is his job"?..like any CEO, it is what his Board or Employer tells him it is !!! The CM serves at the will of the Mayor and Council, a majority not a minority. If I am not mistaken, the citiznes of Vallejo select the Board (Mayor & Council) and as much as you don't like it they selected Mayor Davis, Bartee, Sunga, Wilson and Hannigan as well as Gomes and Shiveley. and they hire the CM and CA....now if you are correct next Novemebe your desires MAYBE achieved, but until then the public has selected our current council and they will and should be making the decisions for the City. I doubt that no matter what they voted on YOU wouldn't agree with them anyway, so your only option is to continue to belittle, intimidate, name call and produce false information to get your point accross and so far all you have been able to do is keep bringing you flunkies down to the Council meetings and laugh and berate, but the majority of the Council, who were elected by the majority of the citizens is doing the best job they can, with the problems they inherited. You may think you are in the majority by writing on this blog, but you may want to re think that...there is another world out here that you know nothing about....Peace

On Fire   |February.28.2009 Street Sweeper, you may not understand or know what the role of a CM is withing the city, but suffice it to say, the is the CEO of corporation of Vallejo. Everything that happens, flows through his office. Not the same a someone who punches in and has his/her one job to do, and then punches out. I keep hearing that Tanner didn't do anything to earn his salary. Okay, you tell me what you think his job was and how you know he didn't do it. So you tell us, what is "his job"? Now that the line has been drawn in the sand by the man behind the curtain, the wondrous oz, it is clear that Tanner won't have the Council majority support. So what would be the reason to stay? None. Oz has fought to gain control over the city departments since he took office. He thinks he is king. In addition to that that he has got his hands slapped by Tanner, and now he has an attitude big time and wants Tanner gone. Ozzy will do everything he can to undermine Tanner's authority and will use his lemmings to vote in his desires. sunga and bartee want to be on the winning team, so they will do whatever the oz tells them to do. Mikey and Hanni smell blood and want to keep their benefactors happy. So Tanner either does what the oz wants, or he will be rendered ineffective. I wouldn't balme him for leaving, but I hope he stays on at least until the judge makes his ruling. Somebody with some sense needs to be in charge. What is needed is for the community to turn out in force, to flood the emails of Council and the horrid, and tell them that they cannot ignore the will of the people and remind them that they serve us, and not the other way around. Something that has ran across my mind: it was ozzy that recruited Salerno, not Tanner. She was supposed to come in and make an analysis of the city departments to see which ones could be consolidated and which ones might not be needed, under the guise of interim HR director. Then, she morphed into the city's negotiator. Now she is supposed to be on contract to help with any further negotiations they may have. Do you remember mikey's and hanni's objections to changing Salerno's range of duties? How hanni fought to keep her in as the HR director? Because as the consultant, she does not have unlimited access to the inner working of the departments. She is not in the loop. So she can't report back to the oz! So it makes it harder for ozzy to spy on Tanner. The more things happen, the more it appears that this was the plan all along. Tanner gets canned, Salerno takes over, ozzy's strong mayor without a charter change. More things to make you go hmmmmmmm!

Angry Taxpayer   |February.28.2009 And if Triad pulls out Tom Bartee will tell everyone he has a few developers lined up ready to step in, too. This town is ridiculous.

Fly on the Wall   |February.28.2009 Please, SS, that firefighter was sitting around the firehouse watching their big screen tv and shopping at Safeway. Those overtime hours were a cakewalk. Henke and Riley made over $150,000 each last year, and they were out over half the year on either Work comp. or UBL. What a joke. And how do you know how many hours Tanner put in? How do you know he didn't work weekends? You don't.

Streetsweeper   |February.28.2009 Come on Tanner does not make 25k over the highest paid fire fighter. That fire guy made 100k in overtime while Tanner was on dayshift with weekends off. If he worked the insane amount of OT that the fire guy got Tanner would have made $500k easy. If you really want to keep fire from making 250k every year stop the OT even if you have to hire people. Maybe then we could reduce the amount of fire personel going out on injury. Can you amagine a fire fighter that is used to 75k or a 100k in overtime not getting that because they hired people?

ANONYMOUS   |February.28.2009 CURIOUS AND FRIENDS: what is wrong with you guys. Joe Tanner has absolutely nothing to do with Touro's threat. First of all, Mr. Tanner was NOT terminated, only not to have his contract extended for 2 more years. He is definetly going to be here for at LEAST another year, unless he wants to run away with his buyout?? But back to Touro. Touro has been making alot of promises and since Siemans pulled out, they are down the creek without a paddle (or as we call it in the real world....MONEY). The 5-2 vote gave them a REASON or EXCUSE to bail out on their promises. I am pretty sure we will hear from Triad shortly, that will say, if Mr. Tanner doesn't stay they will have to pull out of the downtown project?? Lets all get real as to what is going on here. Have any of you ever went aroung the community and REALLY checked on Touro's reputation when it comes to paying its bills??? I didn't think so, you are just buying the pretty pictures. Haven't we done enough of that for the past 5 years. Oh yes, I undestand that if Mr. Tanner stays: Telsa, Trader Joes and In and Out burger said they would come to Vallejo??? Also the stimulous package will cover all of our debt, just as soon as Fighting Back gets back on its feet???? Wake up and smell the roses for what they are.....by the way I personally hope Mr. Tanner would stay.

Anonymous   |February.28.2009 SS, you're believing the PSU lies again. Tanner never got a raise. But that is irrelevant and a smokescreen. He's being paid $25k over the highest paid firefighter. Enuf said. As far as the Council goes, they don't get a regular salary, so you can't consider them part time. Unless you want to start paying them hourly? Once again, this is a distraction. If getting rid of Joe was about money, then the Funded Five wouldn't be telling Touro to **** off. They wouldn't have given $700k away to Mandarich. And they wouldn't have given Jack Higgins an extra $150k for his My Cafe site. Tanner's contract nonrenewal is politics and power, not money.

Streetsweeper   |February.28.2009 Why can't Joe work for the $216k he signed on for originally? He can keep the 600 sick hours he got and cash that out later. Maybe he has done a good job with Touro but I still think all employees have to take some type of cut. City council should give up their medical because they are part time.

Angry Taxpayer   |February.28.2009 It's not about Joe. It's about Ozzie's unquenchable thirst for power and sole control of the city. In his quest, he is getting rid of our city manager in the middle of a crisis, and actually thinks that he has the skills and ability to manage this city. His ego is out of control and the instability he is creating is threatening the best $$$ generating project we have going. It's not about Joe, it's about stability.

Streetsweeper   |February.28.2009 How can you say Joe has done well against PSU? He said the cop deal was good and all of you know it's not right? So He is 0 and 1 against PSU and will only bat 500 at best now. Not sure he is the right guy for this city and I find it strange Touro is going to bat for him.

curious   |February.28.2009 I have had the unfortunate experience of trying to deal with some of those City employees, especially supervising employees, that will be left in Oz's cadre of "other" staff members. They are an embarrassment to their professions!!! They either don't know what the laws or professional standards are or don't they care. They are either stupid, corrupt or narcissistic know-it-alls like the "smartest guys in the room" at Enron or on Wall Street. So I fully understand Touro's concerns. Tanner is the only real professional who actually is representing the good of the community, not some narrow self interest. I would never risk another dime in Vallejo because of the City's culture of pure incompetance. I understand that is the real reason Trader Joe's is not interested in Vallejo either...it has nothing to do with demographics. And it would not help Touro to hire Tanner as their project manager because the GOB vitriol would continue against Tanner and doom the Touro project completely.

Squat Response   |February.28.2009 Squat, Only a union good old boy, business as usual, cronie would even see a possible relationship of betterment between two people with a similar last name. that may be how business has been done in Vallejo in the past, but not going forward.

On Fire   |February.28.2009 Is that as in YOU don't know.......squat? The better question is why is mikey now changing his tune and wanting to talk to Tanner? Maybe because his brother knows that mikey was causing the family compnay to lose the Touro account? Take your trolling self back over to the horrid. You have already posted this nonsense and it's tired and old.

Squat   |February.28.2009 Is there a relationship between Bruce Lang and Dianna Lang? If so, it is pretty obvious why the letter was written.

Squat Response   |February.28.2009 Hey Squat, this may come as a surprise to you, but Touro U recognizes Joe Tanner as the only City employee that has the necessary skill set to move the Mare Island develpement project through. that is why they are threatening to pull out if Joe is not our City Manager!!!

Squat Response   |February.28.2009 I like Tanner because he has actually represented the Tax Paying Public and he has not caved to Union Demands that there is no funding to cover!!!!

Squat   |February.28.2009 Tanner has not done squat for the City. The only reason you like him is because he does not like the fire department. Here is your faulty logic... "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" Good luck with that one.

Respone to Street   |February.28.2009 Touro is having second thoughts about building in Vallejo because our city council majority voted not to extend the contract of our city manager - Joe Tanner. At this point, Joe's salaray is almost a moot point. There are Firefighters in this city that are going to be sucked into Obama's high earner's tax category for additional taxation----the only success point for Vallejo Tax Payer's As far as I am concerned Joe Tanner should be making $500 k per year. First city manager in decades to actually work for the tax payer interest.

Streetsweeper   |February.28.2009 Touro would be great to add to the city but maybe they are having second thoughts on building in Vallejo. I mean we could hire Joe to be a consultant for this project, but how much do we pay him? I just think they have to be looking at this mess in town and thinking what service if any can this city provide if any with their labor cost and low revenue? Not to mention the small amount of Fed bailout money secured compared to other cities. This situation is frustating but I have watched this city chase away projects for the last 30 years, why would that change? Oh ya, we got Marine World

Response to VHS   |February.28.2009 Hard Questions-----We are lucky Touro still wants us. Yes , let's go for it, let's start giving Touro a hard time---they can pull up stakes anytime and go for a City that wants them! As a matter of fact, I can bet you that they are forming an action team right now to find another location for their Cancer Treatment Center as we speak. They have the money and it looks like Vallejo is a losing proposition.

Wake Up   |February.28.2009 Hey, everybody, Last Tuesday night Hannigan, Wilson, Davis, Bartee and Sunga made a decision that has the end result to cause Touro U to take their Cancer Treatment Center to Fairfield right next door to the mall was going to go into Vallejo. Vallejo is going to lose out because of their voting cartel decision. If there is one thing that I really like about Vallejo right, it is our lack of traffic congestion and it looks like we are going to continue to have a lack of gridlock traffic in our town. And that is a good thing, because we all need plenty of time to assess the road in front of us in order to avoid all the pot holes that can cause rim damage and flat tires on our cars.

If I could I would   |February.28.2009 As soon as I have the financial ability I am leaving Vallejo, because I am sick of it! What am I sick of: 1) Majority City Council decisions, like what happened last Tuesday---that de-rail not good projects, but outstandingly the most fabulous projects--Touro U development. 2) City Council Members that are corrupted by Union $ and influence that put the Union interests first and foremost before the taxpayers. 3) A city that has as a primary industry of section 8 housing.

Charlie   |February.28.2009 And how lovely it is that they can drive 37 to skirt Vallejo proper every damn time!!

VHS   |February.28.2009 Well, as a newly ordained member of the PSU, GOB, GED, Slum Load association of Vallejo let me risk it all by letting you in on a closely guarded secret or ours. Salesmen and frontmen in a business deal will say anything to close a deal. The word No is not in the vocabulary of a good salesman. Words and drawings mean nothing and actually are worth less than nothing because they are all designed to get the best deal possible for the salesman. Now I love jobs, we need jobs but any development will give us the one time construction jobs associated with putting up a building. My point is we have a track record of being taken advantage of by developers in Vallejo and I would urge both council and staff to ask the really hard questions up front, before we go down this road with Touro.

VHS Response   |February.28.2009 Hey VHS, If the north end of Mare Island is fully developed to what has been presented to City Council, people will stay close by, because what has been presented is beautiful!! Upper income people shop out of town right now, because there is nothing here right now. Let's face, who wants to get carjacked in the parking lot of Safeway. Touro development is going to change that! Give me break--study current shopping trends---here is the study---people with money and the ability are number one: going to move and number two: are going out of town to shop. A beautiful safe shopping complex on Mare Island will draw back the monied population. The minimization of the impact of the Touro project is laughable.

MISSMARVELOUS   |February.28.2009 So VHS, you thing that there are no people of "means" living in Vallejo? My neighborhood is filled with retired doctors, judges, lawyers, professors, high ranking navy officers and the like... You also believe that Touro will only treat the "affluent" victims of cancer? That's not their motto, they currently operate clinics in Vallejo as well as mentor Vallejo's "getto school children." I am not worried that we will lose all our business to up valley Napa and Sonoma Regions. That's silly, that like saying the city of Oakland's Childrens hospital loses all their business to Orinda or Lafayette. People that are having cancer treatment dont necessary need to go "whine tasting" or feel well enought to go shopping at the Napa outlets. Visiting professors and faculty may go up valley for entertainment, and they also may hop on the ferry to go to San Francisco. If Touro builds the cancer center, other business including entertainment will follow. It's a given.

If It is Touro is Lost   |February.28.2009 If the City of Vallejo loses the Touro U developement, the responsibility for that loss lays directly on: Hannigan, Bartee, Sunga, Wilson and Davis. Vote Bartee and Sunga out just based on what they did Tuesday night. That vote to not extend Tanner's contract placed the first chink in the armor to derail the Touro development.

Anonymous   |February.28.2009 In October's Solano County Business News, Councilmember Mikey Wilson's brother, Tom Wilson, who is the Touro project's lead designer, said, "The development is expected to bring the city about 6,000 new jobs and 4,000 construction jobs." "This is definitely a community asset to be shared," Wilson added. Hey VHS, if you didn't get that, here it is again: The development is expected to bring the city about 6,000 new jobs and 4,000 construction jobs.

Anonymous   |February.28.2009 Bartee does not have a "big deal" on Mare Island coming. Larry Asera has a wind energy project he's been pushing to anybody who will listen. It's a nice project but not a big moneymaker. Bartee always says he's got "other developers" waiting to come in, like in the downtown, but they never materialize. He's just a slimy shuckster trying to make money of of Vallejo like the rest of the GOBs. He'd probably sell his mother if he could make a buck.

silasbarnabe   |February.28.2009 The GOB and their apologists don't want change in Vallejo as it will affect their pocket books in a detrimental way. They would rather have a lower middle class town filled with section 8 homes and developments that require more than average PSU presence, and to pay for it they want heavy industry, casinos and prisons and everyone that lives of off section 8 vouchers or lives off the taxpayer gets a piece of the action. The folks that do not want change like it the way it was and they want to make it the way it is, when you peel the union back Vallejo is just a commodity to them, not a great place to live but a great place to make a living.

little old lady   |February.28.2009 Touro is the only player on Mare Island that fully understands their moral and legal responsibility to protect and care for the National Historic Landmark under their stewardship. The north island cancer project would have returned revenues that Touro planned to use to rehabilitate their Lincoln Hospital building for administration. It is called that because President Abraham Lincoln signed the original documents authorizing the hospital even though the original building was completely rebuilt after the 1896 earthquake that destroyed it and the officers mansions. So the GOBs killed two great projects in one blow.

curious   |February.28.2009 Big secret deal? Gosh, I guess Bechtel doesn't have have anything to rape and pillage now that the war is Iraq is winding down and the new kids in Washington aren't willing to just hand over billions of dollars without bids or accounting. I wondered how long it would be until Bechtel came back. So much for transparency in government. I guess the GOBs know that they have to do things behind closed doors in secret so they can get a head start on the community. What Tom Bartee is really saying is that really big players from out of town are pulling the strings like the old days of navy occupation when the GOBs did not have to follow any stupid old laws because they were exempted by the navy's influence.

Angry Taxpayer   |February.28.2009 Too funny. We "VIBers" are accused of not supporting economic development and new business revenues in Vallejo. Yet when we do support one of the best projects we have going, the PSUers try to tear that project down. And the only reason is because of Tanner, the PSUs worst nightmare. So I guess it's not about revenue generation at all then. It's about your narrow and selfish political agendas. Don't come asking for taxes, especially if you throw away a project like Touro.

VHS   |February.28.2009 MissM, I think there is a chance that medical patients of Touro will take lodging in Napa or AmCan and take their breakfast and dinner there as well. We have pretty good historical president that shows us how upper income people drive into Vallejo, get their business done and drive back out. Are there studies you can point us to that show the economic performance of small teaching hospitals?

Figured it Out   |February.28.2009 I finally figured it out. Davis, Hannigan, Bartee, Wilson & Sunga want to kill the Touro U project because they still want to be able to go to the open fields on the North End of Mare Island to: fly model airplanes; race their remote control cars; and let their dogs run free in the fields chasing the rabbits-----yea, and you can probably through in, "Making out in your car on a Saturday night."

If I Was   |February.28.2009 If I was the President of Touro U, I would make it a non-negotiable point of the developement project that Joe Tanner be the "Vallejo City Point Man," for the project. And If, the voting cartel on our City Council have to oust him as City Manager, Joe Tanner must be hired as a consultant to see the project through in its entirety. It probably would be a better deal for Touro to have Tanner focussed completely on the Touro project, as opposed, to the unending Union Battle and Union Funded City Council Members.

MISSMARVELOUS   |February.28.2009 Streepsweeper asked, how much money will Touro bring? The money that the project will bring will be incidental compared to the "ripple affect" it will have, as history shows. New businesses would locate to Vallejo, employees will eat and shop and spend money in our town,some employess may buy homes here. Touro would have medical conferences here, so hotels would benefit, and new ones would have to be built. It's like saying, what benefit would having Stanford University have, it's only full of students and professors... I would think that Mayor Davis would be proud to have Touro's project suceeed, afterall the only MLK celebration in Vallejo this year was sponsored by Touro. Not to mention the fact that last week they honored the student that almost got beat to death at Hogan (he was given a scholorship and recognized for his bravery.)

MISSMARVELOUS   |February.28.2009 The last big project Vallejo had that actually went through was the military on Mare Island. We almost got a mall, we almost had the Grand Prix, we almost got a 12 block renovation of our downtown district, we almost had a Historic District (it's a histeric district- filled with section 8,)and that's just a few projects that we "almost got." Folks we cannot let Touro move to another city or county where they will be "loved more." What kind of a city council has to have the president of a medical university give them a tongue lashing via written letter before they can make the right decision. Vallejo has been run like a slum for the past 25 years. In fact what a slogan, "Move to Vallejo, it's run like a slum." Viva Vallejo!!!!!!!

Streetsweeper   |February.27.2009 Economics, wow I did not know Vallejo is going to lose $225 million if Touro does not build. I thought we only got a dollar and Is Touro non profit? Oh on the Bartee ramble about a new project I heard from a worker at city hall that it has to do with energy. Maybe a nuke power plant

Backatcha   |February.27.2009 Tom Bartee told someone last night that Vallejo has an even bigger deal about to come through. That person asked him, "Not the Fairgrounds deal, not the Tesla deal on MI, what is it???" He said he couldn't tell them but went on to intimate that it was big enough to eclipse Touro and what they have planned (if this mayor and council majority screwed it up). That person basically said, "B.S.". So, what could possibly be worth KILLING a project - a clean, green and endlessly expansive project like Touro's (which it would be with like minded companies wanting to relocate to be near)? I will bet you NOTHING. Tom Bartee, who on many occasions has said "There are things I can't tell you that would make this make sense" to justify his horrible voting record has lost all credibility (OK, I know with many of you he had no credibility to start with). I'm telling you this is a prime example of the mayor and four on council cutting off their noses to spite their face, flushing down the toilet our most promising project. Call them out, don't let this one get by. If you see them, ask them why when the city is in the middle of bankruptcy they want to kill the one qualified person who can help us through this mess. Why they want to "wing it" with a developer of a project that is monumental to the future of our city? There is NO ONE on city staff - and especially the mayor and council - who has played in the big leagues and could help steer this project through fruition. NOT ONE - except Joe Tanner. And our mayor states in the local paper such egocentric statements such as "No project turns on one person". Yep Os, that means you too. Have you called Touro Os? Have you tried to understand their very legitimate concern? Or are you, as I feared, so caught up in your own visions of megalomaniacal grandeur that you think you can win this ****ing contest - and not be thrown out on your ear? Gee, I bet you'd lose that one by a large margin, Os. Remember people, you are culpable if you do not ask for an explanation, send each one of these misguided miscreants a letter. You too will contribute to the death of the one attainable dream we have before us. What will it be?

Economics   |February.27.2009 Well, it looks like the "economic" decision delivered by: Bartee, Sunga, Hannigan,Wilson and Davis on Tuesday night is going to have an economic impact on Vallejo of a potential loss of 225 million by Touro U. Thanks---We can't vote all of you out of office fast enough!!!!!

Stimulus $   |February.27.2009 The Times Horris said today that Vallejo to get $1.6 million in fed funds. That will probably send 5 firefighters off to retirement in final payment for sicktime and vacation time. Sweet time to get a 250k-300k payout---like hitting the lotto. In Vallejo right, now, you can pick 4 rental properties---go section 8----added bonus to that 90% of high income retirement pay---sweet. Never have to set foot on Vallejo soil again, except to pick up the rent check.

Vallejo Council voting block s   |February.27.2009 Bruce Lang I love your flex! Just when the funded four thought they were the biggest fish in town, you stepped up to the plate and pulled some Touro U 228 million stroke! Thank you soooo much for the,"If Tanner goes, Touro goes." TT for short. If Vallejo loses Touro U because of the Voting block cartel on our current city county, I don't think our city charter needs to have a change for, What do we do in case of a tie. Because Sunga and Bartee will be voted out by a landslide. After that, only a matter of time before we landslide out Wilson, Hannigan and Davis. The funded four won't listen to the public, maybe they will listen to money!

Streetsweeper   |February.27.2009 Sonoma county has now secured 50 million in fed money. I bet Vallejo gets the least amount out of our Solano cities. They will say they were to busy fighting labor and putting us all through this wonderful bankruptcy. Maybe the Feds will think we do not need it because we are under bankruptcy protection. This whole mess continues to unravel before our eyes. Our political leaders will never be elected to anything after the amount of damage they have caused to our town is added up when this is over, if it ever ends

momster   |February.27.2009 FYI: Novato's top brass volunteers to take one furlough day per month http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_11794815

Charlie   |February.27.2009 One thing is as certain as a BIG NO VOTE ON TAXES is that if Touro backs down or changes it plans, OzBro will not be re-elected and neither will Sluggo Sunga, Bartee the Bilker, I-am-the-verb-recuse Wilson and HAhahahahathe-jokes-on-me-every-time-I-open-my-mouth Hannigan.

On Fire   |February.27.2009 I think that anyone watching this all play out at the ozzy springer show can put together the back room deals in the making for MI. Some of our Council members would prefer to not have a cancer treatment center when they could make much more money by bringing in their buddies. Why else would they snub Touro and put the deal in jeopardy?? This started when ozzy took office and talked about getting rid of Lennar and bringing in Grisby to pay off our debts. We watch as Sunga kept pushing for an enterprise zone to get tax breaks for his foreign buddies, many of which contributed heavily to his campaign. Or maybe bartenke has more of his "Charles Hotel" deals in the making, with financial sponsorship from the macabre specialist, Kamphausen. Meanwhile, mikey gobbles up every architecture job his firm can find, complements of the city, which leaves him removed from any hard decisions as he doesn't vote for anything. Oh and the "hard decision" hanni who is reminiscent of a high school cheerleader as she reads her riley script at council. Then that leaves us with the man who would be king, the oz. He will fill the ranks with employess that will not only bow down, but kiss his ring. I can see him getting fitted for his crown as the city crumbles.

Curious   |February.27.2009 Oh, and Vallejo has a prison. It is called old town where all the parolees, group homes, child molesters and halfway houses are located. Read Mike Davis on Los Angeles and extrapolate. Vallejo's old town is "an urban containment zone" where social problems are concentrated on purpose. Vallejo police are just keeping the lid on loosely so that the problems don't leak out and affect other, more stable communities. More evidence of Solano County and regional collusion in keeping Vallejo down on purpose.

Curious   |February.27.2009 Poverty and crime are verrrry profitable for GOBs. So they, like the beggars in India, are willing to cripple Vallejo so we will be more pathetic and the Feds will send more money for the GOBs to line their pockets. Plus if Vallejo remains unlivable, homebuyers will head on up the freeway to buy homes in new subdivisions built on the Solano Greenbelt on lands owned or controled by GOBs. This is not stupidity at work, it is unethical, selfish corruption and collusion at a regional level. Why do you think only Oz's representatives oversaw the County election recount when ballots went missing?

Yup   |February.27.2009 Momster, add to that - This is a working class town and we like it that way. In other words "We're used to having low-end everything and don't have any ambition to be anything else"

momster   |February.27.2009 City of Vallejo's famous words when faced with anyone trying to change things in Vallejo..."Well, this is Vallejo not Sf or Oakland or Marin"

PREDICTION   |February.27.2009 5 to 2 Touro walks Rationale City gives 1)You can't tell us what to do 2) there are other Developers/projects that will surface

Recall Osby Davis   |February.27.2009 This is outrageous. Breathtakingly outrageous. We cannot stand for this. This is the last damn straw for me. RECALL OSBY DAVIS before he further jeopardizes this city. We cannot lose the Touro project. It's our last best hope.

Curious   |February.27.2009 The only City function with pots of money is Economic Development which covers the Vallejo Housing Authority (subsidized housing)and Redevelopment. So all that will be left after the City of Vallejo finally cleans out every general fund function except police and fire, will be Assistant City Manager/head of Economic Development Craig Whittom sitting on his pile of garbage. Et tu brute?

LAME DENIAL   |February.27.2009 Osby the spinmaster in the TH today said that Tanner was not involved in the day to day operation and the permitting process...No project turns on one person. What the great OZ seems to have forgotten is that the letter was published ( according to the TH at a "Private Website"--guess which one) and that it is critical of the Mayor and his leadership. If I was Touro I would not trust Osby and the Funded 4 either. So far the only thing they seem to do well is to make our finanical situation worse than it needs to be. I am waiting for the no one has the right to tell Vallejo what to do.How is that any different than the 20 years of Developers and Unions running our town. The big difference is that Touro is trying to do something positive instead of sucking every dime it can out of the City. Even Whittom said in the article that it is not atypical for Developers to be concerned about continuity in Management. What was the Funded 4 thinking when they killed Tanner--this will ensure a weak CM and $80K from the PSU to support their re election.

On Fire   |February.27.2009 It is typical BAU with the oz and his pig headed refusal to properly address Touro's concerns. It appears that he is hell bent on taking over city hall, filling the departments with people who will be loyal to him and giving him the opening to give direction to employees and having them work for him. The shrinking oz has shown his lack of leadership skills and does not have the knowledge needed to move this city forward. His blatant disregard for Touro's concerns is very disturbing and today's remarks seems to be an indication that we may very well lose the project. The cancer center and Touro's academic presence has the potential to forever change Vallejo's negative image. We have to send a strong message to the mayor and his funded council before it's too late. We need to flood city hall with emails and letters, and we need to show up in force at council Tuesday to make it clear that the mayor works for us and is accountable to the citizens. It's time to show up and make your voice be heard by this inept gang of five. This city is tanking by the day and there is no hope of improvement unless the people take back their city and let these stooges know we won't stand for it. Now is the time people! We need to talk to our friends and neighbors about what is going on at city hall and get them to show up at council this Tuesday. The oz has tipped his hat by making statements that doesn't care about what the people who have showed up at the meetings think and apparently he only cares about the people who supported him and could care less about everyone else. The oz and the funded four need a reality check. The mayor's ego is growing as he senses his new power with each 5-2 vote. Under this current lack of direction, we may soon lose only viable project this city has going. Keep the letters coming and make the attempt to show up for council meetings and tell everyone you know who cares about the future of this city and the possibility of losing this project. By remaining silent, we are sending the wrong message that the gang of five are doing a good job.

news   |February.27.2009 Napa to hire more cops http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2009/02/27/news/local/doc49a78fd7b1df6177774734.txt

Big City   |February.26.2009 I've said this before and I'm more convinced of it now than ever: the only direction that Vallejo is heading in is COMPLETE FINANCIAL COLLAPSE. In other words, a situation where its checks bounce or they just don't issue them to pay their bills. The only alternative is massive layoffs. With the new police "contract", they won't be immune, either.

WaR   |February.26.2009 Mr. Mayor, You Claimed "God Ordained you to be Vallejo's Mayor." Is this what he ordained you do to us, your voting constituents? I suspect it's not God in your court, but someone or something that lives in a much hotter place. You remember, the little monster you've already sold your soul !!! There's only one other politician I've ever heard claim he was "ordained by God" to put into office... and I must say, He, (George W. Bush) has left this Country in the same Hell Osby Davis will be leaving our City in when he's done. Many people I know have already moved away and others are trying to get out ASAP... Soon all remaining residents will be VFD and VPD! And we all know they would never lower themselves to live in such a VOID!

Streetsweeper   |February.26.2009 Trust nobody except maybe Gomes. The truth will set you free, really! We need a council that knows how to and is not affraid to use the potential in Vallejo.We need to make $ and get people to come here to spend money. No LNG but we need to bring in $ as soon as possible. The cancer research is good for our image but I do not think it is the cash cow we need. Take what the unions give and cut the loss now. Stop this crazy mess because we all lose except the lawyers. Can't expect to get too much more out of Fire or IBEW because of the deal PD got.

Anonymous   |February.26.2009 Either that or SS turned WTPO, since you are BFF's and all... It is all the same rhetoric!

Streetsweeper   |February.26.2009 Paranoid! Again! If I don't keep on the VIB line I must be a union leader. The truth is if tanner held the line with the cops you would not be upset.

Anonymous   |February.26.2009 Army of the Rich - haven't the boulders already hit us???? Oh but I keep wondering what could be worse and I round the next corner and: OHMYGOD!

Does Anybody?   |February.26.2009 Know what the process is to change (by voters) the state code that allows unions to contribute to campaign funds. This is where it all starts.

Anonymous   |February.26.2009 CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW MUCH MONEY THE TOURO CANCER CENTER CAN BRING TO THE CITY GENERAL FUND? BEFORE WE IGNORE THEIR SUGGESTIONS WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT WE COULD BE GIVING UP, DURING A TIME WHEN WE NEED EVERY DOLLAR WE CAN SUPPORT. THEIR PROPOSED PROJECT HAS SEEMED LIKE THE JEWEL WE NEED TO TURN OUR CITY AROUND. ANY INFORMATION ANY OF YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD REALLY BE APPRECIATED.

armyoftherich   |February.26.2009 Let me spell this out for you. CM used to have cojones. However, given the vote,he cut a deal or a deal was cut for him. There is no reason left why he should continue to stick his neck out, as his priorities have changed and he is busy planning his retirement. He is now a lame duck Osby stooge, like Sandy. You people better get organized because there are some big boulders of bs coming down, and if no one's looking it'll come crashing all over the Vallejo citizenry.

This is Unbelievable   |February.26.2009 I don't understand, Tanner RECOMMENDED council accept the new VPOA deal KNOWING FULL WELL we would still have a 12M dollar deficit and yet you all treat him like a hero, I understand the part about Touro, but you all need to get real. The Five would have voted for it even if Tanner had said it was a mistake, the figures were shown, I saw them, and the Morons say they must have been asleep. May I add, Salerno is an obvious idiot and didn't even understand what was in the contract she praised; at the rate she was paid, that is completely unacceptable. The first thing Tanner should have done was get rid of the dead weight in the city including several department heads who are inept at best, Stout is one of the only good ones. I understand that the Five don't have a clue and I have yet to figure out how they think they can ever fix this mess that they have continually made worse, but I really don't believe that this was such a bad decision except that Touro's response was unexpected, however, I am no expert in what is going on with them and their new facility. In all reality, I think the funded four are all following Osby around and just doing what he says, oblivious to the havok they are wreaking and Osby has no real plan except to be King. The rest of you are wishy washy, let's cut taxes, screw our city since we are mad at our PSU's, let's fire everyone who isn't a cop, let's raise our insurance rates, and who needs the police to respond to petty theft calls anyway... All of you, GET A GRIP, you have lost focus, and fear seems to have gotten the best of you. We need solutions, not allegedly smart people saying stupid things, which has been occuring a lot more frequently in recent months. And IBEW VP, I mean SS, stick that casino in your (you fill in the blank, use your limited imagination).

Captain   |February.26.2009 Marc My answer to your last two questions in the"Ozby Springer Show": No & Hell No!

Charlie   |February.26.2009 Did Hannigan violate any Brown Act provisions by "personally" talking to the City Manager about his pending contract vote. She did say the vote was already in place before the meeting. Actually, I am glad and hope that Mr. Tanner decides to leave. He has been attacked every which way he could be by the local paper, employee groups and the majority of the council. All the problems he was faced with, he inherited. Unfortunately, we, as voters, didn't do our job by giving him council members that would work with him instead of against him.

Streetsweeper   |February.26.2009 Sorry about all the mistakes in my last post but if you can understand Hermie when he speaks I'm sure you understand what points I was trying to make.

Charlie   |February.26.2009 If only we can memorialize Sunga's little "we listen to everybody" speech on YouTube... the side glances to his lover, the mayor, I was rolling on the floor. What is it with the vice mayor roll that makes them give goo goo eyes to the mayor. Bartee did the same thing. You think they are getting some couchie-couchie under the table on our dime too?

Streetsweeper   |February.26.2009 Your right they have always wanted to try rid of the streetsweepers but half our operating cost is paid by sanitation. Plus in the past the public has protested this move. Of course this much worse and I do believe we will lose plenty of jobs, just not sure where. The general fund would be first but the majority of IBEW there are com operators and police clerks, without them the cops can not operate. One Joe, if he decided to leave why would we pay him a dime as he hits the door? Why not adjust the pendency plan to not pay him like the PSU retirees?That way he has to stay for the year to get paid right?

Captain   |February.26.2009 Totally Outraged If you're at the next council meeting, when Sunga grabs for the microphone I might suggest using that time to relieve yourself. The guy is worthless.

Captain   |February.26.2009 Let's see, Touro sends letter to mayor expressing concern over city services & the potential ouster of Joe Tanner. Rob Stout states that even if the city shut down every other GF funded department other than Police & Fire, the city still couldn't meet their financial obligations. Mayor doesn't respond to letter. Mayor & Council ignore citizen concerns, ignore the concerns of Tourro, come across as an expanded version of the three stooges and are some how perplexed by a budget deficit - while Touro U leaders sit in the audience shaking their heads in dismay, as the CM's contract extension is voted down. As my friend "interesting" would say - brilliant! You just can make this kinda of stuff up. And the Mayor wants the citizens to support more taxes? Wow!

Anonymous   |February.26.2009 Streetsweeper, it's not a problem if the council wanted to renegotiate Joe's contract. If that was the case beacause they felt it was too expensive, then fine. The Mayor knew it had to be done before March 1. Without Council authority or approval, he began negotiating a severance agreement with Tanner. Not a renegotiated contract, but a severance agreement. When that was daylighted at a council meeting a couple of weeks ago, that unauthorized negotiation was discontinued. The next thing we hear is a closed session scheduled and a performance evaluation. The performance evaluation was cancelled. And five Council members voted to not renew Tanner's contract. That is NOT a renegoation process. That is Osby's bumbling way of saying, "Get the **** out of my way, don't let the door hit you in the rear, but go quietly." If you think the outsting of Tanner had anything to do with money, then I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn. This was all about politics and Osby's quest for Strong Mayor. Weak, weak, weak.

Totally outraged at CM firing   |February.26.2009 Captain Sunga so called business decision will cost the City $300K in sererance and finders fees. I am glad thar Hermies MBA has improved his business acumen.

Captain   |February.26.2009 SS If the point was to renegotiate Tanners contract that could have been done months ago. Maybe it was but, if that were the case, I think we would of heard about it during the council meeting. Like Sunga said, it was a business decission (?) and that is so typical of the bungled decissions that have been going on this city. Nothing new; approve VPOA contracts that you can't afford and oust a CM that you probably can't replace.

Charlie   |February.26.2009 They always say the streetsweepers are the most expendable. I say start laying off city workers because no tax is going to be passed. You made the bed...

Captain   |February.26.2009 City, Stockton POA reach deal to postpone layoffs of 29 officers http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090226/A_NEWS/90226007

Streetsweeper   |February.26.2009 What's wrong with Joe renegotiating his contract like the rest of the city worker? We are in bankruptcy right? We are going to be 12 million in the hole next year right? You folks have backed his high salary because he would break the PSU right? Now look at the new cop deal and tell me he did a good job. The cancer research center would think about backing out with or without Joe because what service can Vallejo promise with the direction we are headed? Really! Who knows how many workers will be cut lose to keep operating? How will this effect service? What a mess and we are not even close to the bottom

On Fire   |February.26.2009 You can address the email/mail seperately, but all should specify that you want it to be a" matter of record", and asking to have it "read into the official minutes". I would put that on each email/letter just in case the mayor doesn't have time to open or read his mail. He has a habit of disregarding the reading of correspondance at Council meetings. But if it's on all if the emails/letters, at least one of the council people that always asks will read it. This correspondance should be attached to the minutes from that meeting. This is seperate from misc. emails that may not be considered part of an agenda item. (Like if you simply sent a "good job" email to one of them.)

p-oed   |February.26.2009 Long time reader, first time poster. Got a question. If I want to email the council and have it be recorded as correspondence in the record, don't I have to email a general email addy, or will it be recorded if I email them individually?

Mark Hutchins   |February.26.2009 OMG, what great campaign material. Ozzie and the funded four vote to kill a 2 Billion dollar project on Mare Island by choosing not to renew City Manager Tanner's contract. After finally checking the mailbox we see Wilson and Sunga scrambling to toss off their votes by pushing the responsibility of the renewal into the lap of Tanner. On top of it all Ozzie once again stated that there was "no written correspondence" to report. What a sad sad joke this is!!

Robert Schussel   |February.26.2009 The phone number for the Mayors office is 707-648-4377. I think people need to let him know what you think about Touros letter to him and what is he going to do about it. His email is mayor@ci.vallejo.ca.us

On Fire   |February.26.2009 Not to change subjects but we see henke has again caused financial stress to a city. This time it was American Canyon! The fire fighters that were graduates of Almeda U now have to return the additional salary that was paid to them for their educational incentives. Although the city didn't not find it to be fraud, it would be considered a gift of public money! It was not an isolated case as with Vallejo, but a major rush to become "well educated" within the AC fire dept ranks. We all know that well educated translates to well compensated, except for that one major sticking point...they never went to class. As noted with the Vallejo/AC contract, it didn't have any requirement to be an "accredited" school, and a couple of hours online and a check in the mail sufficed. Something that our council member Sunga knows all too well. So, did we get our money back from the one identified graduate of Almeda U that works for Vallejo's fire dept.?

Smack!   |February.26.2009 What, the out of town PSU sycophants say "let Tanner leave, let Touro leave!". You mud-for-brains think that a casino, prison or polluting, dangerous refinery is all Vallejo deserves? The economic impact of Touro alone would eclipse ALL of those nasty industries while uplifting this community. It is clear, you have malicious intentions towards Vallejo. You are the true haters. Check Mate Osby and the Bent Four. You blow the ONE GOOD THING we have planned for this community and you will be run out of town on the rails. And don't think that Craig and Sandy are comparable in ANY way. Tanner's contract provision was written specifically for such a situation - a city that has a history of making bad decisions dictated by the bully known as the PSU's. This is the moment people: the old way or the new way. Are we doomed to repeat the self-defeating BAU way or will we move into our future? Too bad the majority of five are so limited in intellect or spine. Thank you Dick Hassel and Bruce Lang!!!

On Fire   |February.26.2009 When people speak at the City Council meetings, it becomes part of the official record for the meeting. If you send correspondance to Council, you have the right to have your concerns be part of the meeting the same as if you were to speak at the meeting. You need to send it to all council members and not just the mayor because as he stated, he may be "too busy" to open and read his mail. But you need to be specific and state that you want your concerns read into the meeting as a matter of record. We also need letters to the times horrid as well, as many people do not watch the council meetings. This type of irresponsibility needs to stop and it needs to stop now. If the mayor and the funded four can't check their egos at the door, or can't represent all of the citizens of Vallejo and not just the interest groups, they need to go.

Under the Rug   |February.26.2009 "Hey Tessla, ignore the little man behind the curtain, for I am The Great and Powerful Oz. Choose to locate your plant in Vallejo, really, we want you here really bad. We just had a large area of land become available on the north end of the island. Why? Oh, don't worry yourselves over that. Just come to Vallejo. It's a risk, but that's business, right? What? Oh we have capable staff to help your project be successful. Craig Whittom and Sandy Salerno are the best. What? We don't need an experienced city manager. We've got me, I'm Strong. Trust us with your billion dollar plant. Really.".

Charlie   |February.26.2009 Has Davis done anything for this city? He is a POS that should never and probably was NOT elected.

Anonymous   |February.26.2009 Oh, I'm regretting not pushing the stolen election from Cloutier so much more lately. I didn't vote for Osby, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt after he "won." I wanted Vallejo to move forward, so I let the election go and was hopeful that Osby could make things work. Talk about disappointment. This mayor is a complete disaster and a huge egomaniacal joke. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'd cry tears of joy if Intintoli came back! What a joke Osby turned out to be. He'd better make this one right or I will personally help with a recall drive, and I don't usually do that sort of thing. I'll get my family, friends and neighbors, too. This CAN NOT happen. Osby, fix this now. Put your huge ego aside, and make it right. If you are responsible for us losing our brightest hope for the future, you're politically through.

Interest   |February.26.2009 So, you can have your letters that are written to the council written into the minutes of the meeting? Does that mean that they will also read it out load to in the meeting?

momster   |February.25.2009 I've already written to them.

On Fire   |February.25.2009 I cannot believe that the oz had actually ignored the first letter that was sent by Touro. He owed them as least a response and an explanation on his decision, as well as the funded four. To simply ignore the concerns addressed by Touro is unacceptable. If we lose this project, it will be on the heads of the gang of five. Once again they are revealing their true loyalty, and that is their financial supporters. We should be sending emails and letters immediately to the gang of 5, demanding that they make this right with Touro. If it takes giving Tanner another contract to see the project through, so be it. When you send your emails and letters in, be sure that you specifically state that you want it read into the official council minutes as a matter of record. Otherwise, it may find it's way to the round file, along with the letters from Touro!

Angry Taxpayer   |February.25.2009 Oh, you've got to be kidding me. The "business friendly," chamber-endorsed, union bought Funded Five have managed to scare away the biggest, best and most promising revenue generating project in Vallejo? The one and only bright spot discussed at last night's council meeting? Oh. My. God.

Water Bill   |February.25.2009 watch out - You need to complain to them about your late charge as you have your bank statement to back it up, that money goes to water, not general fund. It is stupid that the bill goes to LA but it was apparently cheaper to process them there. Pay online like I do, then you will never be late... I think the LA company is NOT doing it's job properly! It takes three days maximum for mail to reach the processing center, and at least 5 more days for them to process it. You could ptentially have your water shutoff due to the processing center's delay. Get together for a class action lawsuit for unfair billing and late charges, that will get their attention. I work for water and have been dinged a couple of times myself in the past, I think the penalties are ridiculous with the excessive late charge fee and the imminent water shutoff but at least there aren't thousands of liens levied against property taxes. Water would not be in the black if that were so.

Charlie   |February.25.2009 I vote for bought and stupid.

Anonymous   |February.25.2009 I am DISGUSTED by the complete transparency of these 5. What are their motives? Do they vote against reason because they do not want to admit that we are right???? Or are they bought by their campaign supporters? They are either stubborn, bought, or stupid. Seems these five are voting completely out of self interest. What else could it be?

Time for Recall   |February.25.2009 RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECAL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE RECALL THE FIVE THEY ARE BASTARDS WHO HATE VALLEJO AND WANT TO SEE IT DESTROYED

Anonymous   |February.25.2009 How do I find out how many registered voters there are in the city of Vallejo?

watch out   |February.25.2009 My bank statement says that my payment for the water bill cleared 5 days before the City said that it did. That's a more credible 7 days to get to LA. That means it was not late. So the City is scamming for late fees.

LMAO!   |February.25.2009 well, hmmmmmm I believe they process the majority of the bills in LA because it is cheaper than hiring more water billing personnel. That particular division is one of the most busiest and productive of the city, so I can't fault them for that other than maybe having a local vendor do it, but cost is the factor.

On Fire   |February.25.2009 Yes, a Boston Tea Party! A Civil Tax Payer Revolt and JUST SAY NO campaign! No one red cent till the gang of five learn to use a budget, become responsible to the tax payers, and start paying attention. What we need is an organized Tax Payers Group with some legal tax advise. When the city rolls out it's campaign to beg for more money, we need to roll out our Not One Red Cent signs, take an ad out in the horrid, mass email, letter writing and whatever it takes to shake this town up. Maybe Gomes and Schivley can have another Town Hall meeting to discuss the fees/taxes and what exactly it means to each household.

watch out   |February.25.2009 in small change...

watch out   |February.25.2009 Another clever way to get more money out of us poor beleagued citizens. I just got nicked a late fee on my City water bill. Seems my check took 12 days to get to the processor in Los Angeles. The advice I got was to hand deliver my payment directly to City Hall in the future.

Angry Taxpayer   |February.25.2009 Yes, MT, we are going to revolt. We're going to throw the damn tea into the Mare Island Strait. No new taxes. No increased taxes. No new fees. No increased fees. No, no, no. Hell no. How do you like that Ozzy, Tom, Hermie, Mikey and Erin? Whatcha going to do when you've got to cover for the UUT and have no other new revenues to make up for your **** poor decisions? And you won't have a city manager to help you figure it out, either.

Captain   |February.25.2009 Michael The city is awake. The Mayor, by his own admission (if you beleive him?), was the one sleeping. Hopefully the refusal of Vallejo's citizens to extend/increase taxes will provide the jolt that the Mayor & Council need to awake from their coma.

Firebug   |February.25.2009 Angry, Weighted voting based on special benefits means that some parcels would benefit from the Mello Roos $$ more than others so the voting is adjusted to make the voting more equal. In some developments there is no buildings on the parcels (undeveloped land)so the developers and partners would be the ones voting to apply the Mello Roos. That means that when buildings are finished on the parcels the tax would apply to each one for a fixed time like 25 years for expample. The property buyers don't get to vote on such a tax, but are bound by law to pay it.

Michael Tatham   |February.25.2009 from what i am hearing around town their appears to be a taxpayers revolt over what happened at city council last night. the anger is out there. when will the city council wake up.

Anonymous   |February.25.2009 Paul Norberg rocked last night. His words were powerful strong! Not that the Funded Five listened to him or anybody else. Oh yeah, Hermie says that they listen to each and every one of us.

Very Angry Vallejo Resident   |February.25.2009 Ok, so I read what you sent me Firebug and I appreciate every little fact you can give, this will just fuel my letter to every single person I can think of to write to, but a few things about this bothers me, such as...Requires majority property owner approval of benefit assessments, by weighted voting, of benefit assessments. And - Limits assessments to the special benefits conferred. Do you know what "special benefits" are? The other sentence bothers me because of "weighted voting". I hope I'm not making this more complicated than what it is. I'm not a very technical person, nor am I a CFO, CEO or retired. I only have basic knowledge of this mess and am trying to piece together everything that I can. Thank you to all who have responded and clarified some of what is going on.

Charlie   |February.25.2009 I understand about the general fund vs. enterprise funds. And, a lot of people do not know that the city can raise fees at a drop of a hat or they don't care. I was trying to point out that the city has the ability to raise fees on bills that people get monthly and every other month, pretty much without question,making it harder for them to make ends meet. The only way to get these people out of office is to get the apathetic voter out to vote against them and their taxes AND fees. Those fees hit people hard every time they get a bill and those are the ones that most people in Vallejo that do not own homes can relate to.

Firebug   |February.25.2009 Charlie, The general fund deficit is $12,000,000 raising fees in enterprise funds will not help this. This is why they are forced to bring their case to the voters. Everyone already knows they raise fees at the drop of the hat, whether or not the voters support their tax hikes for the general fund has no bearing on fee hikes in the enterprise funds. Angry, Please read this link it will answer most of your questions. http://www.pmstax.com/state/218prop9612.shtml

Charlie   |February.25.2009 Fees without voter approval can bee increased. What better justification than a projected 12 million dollar deficit, general fund or not. Like the $500,000 that they removed out of the water fund to pay the bankruptcy attorneys, they will always find a way to circumvent the law. Regardless of how many people oppose such increases the city council always votes in favor of them. That was my point, bug.

Captain   |February.25.2009 Business Week Mark Garman featured in video Nichilini has no new ideas http://feedroom.businessweek.com/?fr_story=6fee763b32519ae856bc4d081a6bf08a1e6c9069&rf=rss

Very Angry Vallejo Resident   |February.25.2009 Ok, so you bring up a very good point (and something I have been meaning to call about, but not sure who to call). I live in Sumerset Highlands and I already pay a Mello Roos (for a park I don't have anymore!). So, if the city wanted to ADD to my Mello Roos, then they would have to have an election to find out if I would be willing to pay more Mello Roos to pay for the shortfall? There is no other taxes they can add that I WOULDN'T have to vote on? Either way, I don't know any voters who would vote for MORE Mello Roos. I want to be absolutely sure I understand that they cannot add a tax without some type of voter's approval.

Firebug   |February.25.2009 Sorry Charlie- And your point is? Any such fee increase can't be used in the general fund.

nexus   |February.25.2009 From the web...'In the financially embattled city of Vallejo, Albert Lavezzo provides the Times-Herald with a deep well of historical knowledge.Al, a respected attorney and North Bay business leader, has also served on Vallejo,s city council, redevelopment agency and housing authority; he knows the city as well as anyone.' Hmmm. Redevelopment and housing authority legal expert? He also advises Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control.

And,   |February.25.2009 that is exactly what they said they would do.

Firebug   |February.25.2009 Sorry Charlie, in order to raise fees in an enterprise fund they have to justify the cost of the fee by proving it is needed, and it would not be money that could be used in the general fund.

That's not true   |February.25.2009 they can raise "service fees" which basically are taxes without representation on your water, garbage, cable, sewer and telphone bills without voter approval. Look at your water bill and at the service fee that is collected every bill. That is a tax you did not vote on.

Firebug   |February.25.2009 There is only one way the Council can sneak a tax in that does not need to go to the voters at large. That is a Mello Roos in which 2/3 of the property owners would vote to impose a tax. All other taxes require 2/3 majority of voters to approve like a 911 tax, or a simple majority for a "general use" tax which isn't specifically ear marked toward anything. Since 3/4 of the general fund is for safety services, 3/4 of the tax will go to paying for safety services which kind of walks the gray line of being a specific tax which should require 2/3 majority. You can thanks Jarvis Gann, and the Jarvis Gann taxpayers association for all this oversight.

Very Angry Vallejo Resident   |February.25.2009 So Firebug - Are you saying that the council and mayor cannot raise ANY taxes unless we the voters approve? Is there any way they can sneak something in that we cannot do anything about? I'm sorry if I am being redundant, I want to understand perfectly what I am up against. I know your site has touched on these subjects many times, I just have such a bad memory as to what was always said.

Firebug   |February.25.2009 Anonymous, Actually they cannot add a utility tax to water/sewer unless they go to the voters. If they want to raise rates they have to justify it by showing a deficit in the enterprise fund and adhere to prop 218 laws around how an enterprise fund is spent. The diligence of Mr. Norberg, Robert Shussel, J.D. Miller, Marc Garmen, Katie and so many others keep watchfull eyes on our budgets.

Very Angry Resident   |February.25.2009 I will do this today, but what else can we do other than TALK about it?

ANYONE WHO TOOK OUT AN EQUITY   |February.25.2009 in previous years based on convoluted appraisals knows that their property values are no where near assessed at those values in today's market and won't for a very, very long time. You can fax the RE-ASSESSMENT FORM or mail it. To get comparable proof for reassessment, just goggle an address in your neighborhood that has sold recently, and be ready for a shock. Remember the sales have to have taken place after Jan 1, 2009, print or write down 3 with the sold amounts, etc. and send them to the county assessor's office. WARNING: There a mailings going out to do this for fees. DO NOT pay these people. It's a scam. More people trying to take advantage of an already bad situation.

TO VERY ANGRY RESIDENT   |February.25.2009 Over the past 16 years, the city council has and will continue to raise the fees with out taxpayer approval on your city water bill and sewer. Until people get sick of this taxation without representation, they will get away with it. Send you emails to every single one of your council members and the weak mayor. Send a copy of the letter to the Times Herald. Apathy amongst the voters in Vallejo let's these crooks get away with killing this city.

Very Angry Vallejo Resident   |February.25.2009 the last post was from me, Very Angry Vallejo Resident. I forgot to put in my name...

Anonymous   |February.25.2009 I will absoolutely vote no on any tax, but will it matter if they can add tax to my water/sewer bill? I talk to my friends/neighbors all the time about this, they feel the same way. I appreciate the people who go to the city council and speak, I especially liked what Paul Newburg (I think that is who it was) had to say. He said EXACTLY what I was thinking. I'm not a good speaker and really do want to get up there and speak, but I am a bit of a chicken to speaking in front of a camera, I am willing to get involved somehow with this, but it might be more behind the scenes. Please let me know if there is something more I can do.

Beseiged home owner   |February.25.2009 To put things into perspective I bought my home about 8 years before home prices really started to climb. The price of my home has declined 25% from what I paid for it and 33% from its property tax value ( even though we are in a housing crisis the appraised rate continues to climb). Vallejo's revenues from Propery taxes will decline dramatically over the next few years as the reassessments hit the books.If you bought your home in the last 9 or 10 years protesting the current assesses value may be worth it. You will need to find comparables within the last few months to include with the Form.

Firebug   |February.25.2009 What can we do? Vote no on any tax increase, get out around town talk to your neighbors and explain that Ozzy and the Council majority voted for raises and want to tax us to pay for them. After the taxes are voted down you can attend the very next Council meeting and address the Council and tell them you voted no because they aren't competent enough to spend the money they have. You can also tell tell Hermie that it is nothing personal, just a business decision .

GET YOUR PROPERTY TAX REASSESS   |February.25.2009 https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ar/home.asp before the next bill goes out.

curious   |February.25.2009 pure corruption!!!! Maybe we should all caravan to Washington D.C. and lobby every single Republican legislator who objects to the "tax and spend" democrats and get some real grandstanding started in the halls of congress.

Anonymous   |February.25.2009 Very Angry, I don't think any of us knows what to do yet but feel frustrated anger. But that anger must be channelled into action. I think we all need a day or two to vent first!

Very Angry Vallejo Resident   |February.25.2009 I don't know why my posts keep getting cut off. What I am trying to say is: I just don't know what to do, I would like to get involved, but I don't have a clue how to help. Hope all of this gets posted.

Very Angry Vallejo Resident   |February.25.2009 I just don

Very Angry Vallejo Resident   |February.25.2009 Fly on the wall - I TOTALLY agree with you. What is it that we, as citizens, can do? I know you will say, go to the city council meetings, write letters to council or to the paper, ect. but that doesn't seem to work, I listened as speaker after speaker got up and said their peace about the budget, the CM and how much the "FUNDED 5" doesn't listen to the public, it doesn't seem to matter. Can we really do some kind of recall? Is that really going to work? My first thought is to get Osby Davis out of there, he leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. Also, 2 of the 4 council members who keep voting to keep Vallejo in the red are leaving, so hopefully that will change the way things are done, but by then it will probably be to late. I just don

Anonymous   |February.25.2009 Good point On Fire. Maybe we should sentence them all to second terms so they will be forced to deal with the disaster they've created. Joanne and Stephanie don't have to do hard time in second terms, unless they're masochists and want to of course.

It's time   |February.25.2009 to start organizing against any fee and tax hikes as getting these POS out. I thought signing new contracts while in bankruptcy and before the judge issued his ruling was stupid, but DAVS, SUNGA, BARTEE, WILSON AND HANNIGAN voting for the contracts KNOWING that the city would have a 12 MILLION dollar deficit is F'N unbelievable... even for them.

On Fire   |February.25.2009 Recall is too kind. I say tar and feather them, and put them on the steps to have people throw rotten veggies at them each day.

Fly on the Wall   |February.25.2009 I'd like to say I'm shocked by the actions of this council, but I'm not. I'm shell shocked. I keep watching them make these assanine decisions, defending them with misnomers like "business friendly" and "fiscally responsible" when they are just the opposite. Just because you say something is a dog doesn't make it a dog unless it has four legs and barks. These five people are out of control. City Council gone wild. WTF? They are enjoying their 5-2 votes so much, they're not listening. Obviously, if Ozzy didn't hear that we had a $10-12 million deficit when he voted to give cops raises in January. Or when he didn't understand that he gave away $700 million in fees by bending over for Mandarich. "I must have been asleep" is right up there with "I don't have enough information." What a bunch of jokes. Shall we play the prediction game again? Tanner leaves within a couple of months with his severence. Sandy Salerno will become acting CM. The Incredible Shrinking Oz gets strong mayor on the ballot. BUT his power spree ends there. The voters vote down every tax he proposes. The voters reject his strong mayor grab. And the new council is left with a $20 million deficit to handle. Back where we started. The funny thing is that we call Tom, Hermie, Erin and Mikey the Funded Four and leave Ozzy out of it. How much do you want to bet the unions haven't promised him help getting Strong Mayor passed in exchange for getting rid of Tanner and supporting new unsustainable contracts? The five of them to me are now The Funded Five. Recall anyone?

Recall5   |February.25.2009 I'll volunteer to work for the recall of Osby, Bartee, Hannigan, Sunga and Wilson.

On Fire   |February.25.2009 I think Stout has done his best to illustrate the possible impact of next years deficit,but again, I don't think the "driving while asleep" council and oz are paying attention. The deficit is so large that even if they lay off every employee other than police and fire, they still would not save enough money to keep Vallejo in the black. Every employee and they would still be millions of dollars short. Yet, they voted to pay for two city managers, one that more than likely will be looking for his payout, and one that has to jump into the middle of this mess. How much more money are the people willing to give to the irresponsible four and ozzy to throw away? Apparently they only listen to the people who supported them during election. Everyone else is on their own. I say it's time to form a citizen's Tax Payer Revolt group to send a resounding "Hel(l) No to the funded four and the shrinking little man called Oz.

Tanner   |February.25.2009 probably had enough and who can blame him (besides Davis, Sunga, Bartee, Wilson and Hannigan). I think flyers should be handed out and posted all around town telling people that these jerks voted to give raises to employees while there is a 12 million dollar deficit on the books and while the city is in bankruptcy. Taxpayers should be told that these same people voted to obtain information on putting new parcel and sales taxes on the ballot for them to pay for their bungled decision and the people should be told that their fees, which do not need voter approval and which already are too high, will be raised again.

Anonymous   |February.25.2009 Tanner was "Barclayed". We are right back at square one. All you idiots who scream about new revenue? No business wants to locate to Vallejo seeing that it has such poor leadership with losers like Ozzy Davis, Hannigan "this was a difficult decision", Sunga fake MBA, Wilson recuse myself, Bartee the thief... Interesting article in the Atlantic about how the economy will reshape America and based upon it, I fear Vallejo is doomed.

Waz up wid dat?   |February.25.2009 There a lot of possibliies. I could see the five not wanting Tanner back, but who influence them? Wilson most likely by Sen. Wiggins office, and Hannigan by her dad, former assemblyman. Bartee by the GOB crowd, and Sunga just follows Bartee. Um, Osby, well his speciality is defense of slumlords, so think of some of the big slumlords in town... There of course is the possiblity that Tanner is being wooed by other cities that are thinking about bankruptcy, they may be offering him a bigger paycheck than Vallejo to come to their city. More will come out...

John K   |February.25.2009 Was Mayor Davis asleep at the wheel when he voted to approve the new VPOA contract? At last night's council meeting, Rob Stout estimated a $12 million deficit for 2009-2010. Did Osby say he must have been asleep if that was announced before he approved the VPOA contract? And how about the rest of the Council? Were they asleep too? From reading page 127 of the pdf doc of the January 27 amended agenda with staff reports, it looks like Mr. Stout projected a $10 million deficit, so maybe we should give Osby a break? When he and the council majority bought into the new unsustainable contract, the projected deficit in the staff report was only $10 million, not $12 million. So maybe he wasn't really asleep at the wheel that night... perhaps he just dozed off momentarily and missed an important exit. http://tinyurl.com/acucwo

I love Vallejo   |February.25.2009 the time is NOW to begin a RECALL! Osby, Bartee, Hannigan, Wilson and Sunga!

5/7ths Corrupt   |February.24.2009 They are corrupt! There is no other explanation. Give aways to a developer, give aways to a Good Old Boy property owner, self interest on all fronts. What else could it be other than corruption? It's not that they're stupid because that would be tooooo easy. They are 5/7ths corrupt and I'm very confident that my observation is correct.

On Fire   |February.24.2009 Okay, I think I have watched enough council meetings to know that you need to pay attention and read between the lines to get to the real answers. We heard that council had made decisions without everyone being in on the conversations. We heard Schively begin to say, what ozzy had said in the back room. Ozzy was quick to jump and cry foul, citing violations of closed session conversations. Then Schivley goes on to say that she thanked and appreciated the people who took the time to come out and participate in the meetings. Now, that made me wonder what ozzy could have possibly said. Second clue, Sunga becomes defensive and tells the audience that he believes that everyone on council, values and listens to what the public has to say. That seemed odd until you put it together with ozzy's outburst. Did ozzy say he didn't listen to or care about what people had to say about decisions they were making? Now, this is speculation. But now thinking back, Schivley briefly mentioned that ozzy had been in some sort of negotiations with Tanner about his contract. Now we find that the funded four had quickly made up their minds to not continue Tanner's contract. So, were secret negotiations going on after all? Ms. hannigan's vote seemed to have come with a lot of thought. Like she had already made up her mind, long before tonight's council session, which was supposed to be the first they had had this conversation. There is just so much to say about how wrong this whole meeting went, and it's too late to go into it. But one thing for sure, we have witnessed some of the worst and most irresponsible decision making tonight, along with some of the biggest lies being told. OMG! What is going on?

THE SCOUT   |February.24.2009 TIRED OF IT.......CAN YOU BLAME THEM ???

Tired of It   |February.24.2009 You know what is sad. The people in this town that have the financial ability are going to leave.

Curious   |February.24.2009 All economic solutions where we count on one big, rich "sugar daddy" will never work. Vallejo needs a diversified economy, one that requires little lead time and low investments to get it going because we are already too late. The quickest and simplest way is to stop catering to the slumlords and those that profit from taking advantage of the poor. All owners of rental properties should have a business license and every single unit should be inspected yearly by for a small fee ($100/unit). Just that would be over $2 million in revenues. Illegal units, people living in garages, etc. should be ferreted out and remediated (plus a big fine). All of the cost of PSU calls over 3 per year should be billed for the full cost of the call. When slumlording and farming the poor is not so incredibly profitable, the buildings will transition into owner occupied homes for lower income families that will work to fix them up. Building materials will be sold; plumbers and electricians will get hired; local low income kids will have an opportunity to get a job as a helper; permits will be obtained; people will shop locally; businesses will be attracted by good workers; etc. etc. Vallejo happens to have an incredible existing opportunity for heritage tourism that would create many more, diverse jobs than one casino. I take offense at the red-herring elitist argument. Most of the newbies I know who bought affordable houses recently are artists or creative class workers who volunteer many hours making Vallejo better and fix up their properties in their spare time. These people are officially low or very low income families. But they are very different from the welfare, single mom with numerous boyfriends and run-amock kids in a run down rental with a broken window. Of 22 buildings on my block, 6 are owner occupied, 2 are group homes, 2 are vacant, 7 are single family rentals, 5 are multifamily rentals and 3 rentals cause problems. And yes, I am officially low income too so I know that being a good citizen has nothing to do with how much money one has. You can't make a stable neighborhood when that many people don't have any investment or motivation to keep their places nice. Unfortunately, the GOB's profit from this disasterous system. I remember our mayor's ad in the old edition of the yellow pages that said "Christian attorney specializing in evictions".

THE SCOUT   |February.24.2009 DON'T YOU PEOPLE HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THEN LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE'S CONVERSATION AT LUNCH. THIS VENUE SHOULD BE USED FOR LEGITIMENT DEBATE AND NOT CHILDLISH RUMORS. GET A LIFE

On Fire   |February.24.2009 Well if it was Curtola, then you can guess who talked to him. He was on Hannigan's campaign team.

Exactly!   |February.24.2009 That's is why nothing changes. Don't ever think that these clucks don't have say on what goes on and why so much money is funneled downtown while the rest of the city rots. Collusion boys and girls. Brown Act violations and a few getting rich and living quite well on our backs.

momster   |February.24.2009 I was at the Good Day Cafe. The energy was different than Georgia Steet Grill. A lot old time farts in the resturant. I had a flashback of Terry's Waffle shop and suddenly felt out of place. Too bad it's still in Vallejo that the good ole' boys exist and only frequent white owned resturants. The owners of Georgia Street Grill are very nice; in fact, I grew up with many of the family members. My husband who is a newbie felt the different energy as well.

On Fire   |February.24.2009 VHS, situational awarness also calls for long term planning. Knee jerk responses, like the "any business is good business" is why we have over a 150 alcohol outlets, and not enough food stores. It's why we are plagued with over 10 smoke shops that bring all the problems of drug use with them. One would need to ask why are most of the fast food eateries are in low income neighborhoods, where they do the most harm since these communities have the highest levels of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. The lack of long term planning is why all of the buses need to go downtown instead of on routes that don't duplicate service to some areas and not enough to others. So somewhere in the middle, is where we need to be. No extreme industries that will cause more health problems, no businesses that drain our resources. (Even if they have a hundred minimum wage jobs.) If we don't start looking at job training and felon friendly employers, the troubled youth will never find employment here because it's more lucrative to sell drugs. There are many things that this city needs to change and it's even more complicated to have the necessary dialog when everyone is fearful of what the future will bring. This is also hard when you have the union apologists that are fear mongering within the community. I have lived around neighborhoods that would put Flosden, College Park and the Crest to shame. I've work with youth from many of these neighborhoods and they don't scare me. Maybe we can find a way to sit down at the table and work through these things out. So keep coming back and continue the discourse. And no Street Sweeper, not the black jack tables.

LITTLE CHILL   |February.24.2009 Big Chill....I sat behind ex-mayor curtola today at the Good Day and he was with a guy from out of town. I also listened to them for a half hour and all I heard them talk about was some project in Vacaville and a power plant in Dixon. You must have better ears than me and I was really trying to hear them?? Maybe you were listening to the wrong bunch? Anyway you sounded pretty factual, keep up the good reporting..

Streetsweeper   |February.24.2009 VHS, well said and I think you hit it on the head. I never liked the gas plant plan but what other industry could we bring in that's not dangerous or that would not need our money? Or could bring tourists from around the world with direct ferry service from SF? Lets all say it together! CASINO!

Big Chill   |February.24.2009 I sat near the Curtola bunch at the good day and herd what they had to say. The fix is in. Tanner is on his way out. They will pull the strings on his golden parachute tonight. The Fantastic Five have met and convened. Private information was discussed only council members could have known in closed session. The way he talks he could be running for a council seat or the mayor's seat. Watch out for the sneak attack.

VHS   |February.24.2009 Well On Fire, I guess we agree to disagree then on a host of issues. I will say that the community spirit shown by people on the graffiti paint outs and other activities is something to be applauded. The new blood in town seems to have sparked many good things but I guess my frustration comes from what I perceive to be a lack of situational awareness. All of the smart growth, land use planning, industry blocking activities may work in a more wealthy community but we are smack dab in the middle of down and out vile. Our legions of poor needs jobs above all else, even above land use concerns IMO. LNG is not dangerous. If you want danger, go walking around in the Crest or Flosden, or College Park after dark. I believe we will never make Vallejo prosperous without first solving the problem of what to do with or for these poor people. We either move them out to other communities and hope the monied class returns or we pursue policies that bring jobs, jobs, jobs.

On Fire   |February.24.2009 Well VHS, I'm by no way considered a newbie, but I also have issues with LNG, casinos and prisons being built on MI. (Or anywhere in Vallejo)I also have a problem with poor land use, which would have been the case with super wally. If the store had to be built, there were plenty of empty lots in Vallejo that could have accomodated the store, if it was built to the same size it was in the previous location. I still would not have supported it, but may have opposed it less if it were a more reasonable purposal. Make no mistake though, will never spend one cent in the store. It's the ridicuous notion that Vallejo is suffering from some "class system" fight that baffles me. The old, stuck in the mud people, who have accepted bad decisions year after year, now somehow feel threatened? Threatened by what? Change? The "old system" hasn't worked up until now and it has now brought us to financial ruin. We have nothing to lose and it would seem that we can only get better by embracing change and a healthy exchange of new ideas, and appreciating the wisdom of those in the know. On the other end of that spectrum, I don't like the idea of total gentrification either. The people that give Vallejo it's flavor, shouldn't feel threatened that they are being tossed out of town or less welcome. So somewhere in the middle is what we should be striving for. To those who think that all the newbies are elitists, how hypocritical. I've lived in this town for over twenty years and there are plenty of groups of people that have never welcomed new people within their fold. When I see people painting out graffiti, it's a mix but with plenty of new people volunteering their time. Same with the neighborhood revitalizations/clean ups. New people seem more enthusiactic about helping out, even when it's across town and not their neighborhood. You see the newbies at all the major fund raisers for schools, the arts, CBO's and supporting the businesses. I welcome the newbies, and am glad to have the extra hands and minds, helping to improve Vallejo.

Streetsweeper   |February.24.2009 Yes I continue to sweep in the rain and it works better because of the extra water, but I do have to empty the sweeper more with all the extra water. The street guys have a crew of 6 that fix work over a hundred miles of streets. The major projects are done by contractors. All of us do not get a day off because of rain, we just get wet that day

Curious   |February.24.2009 Looks like more Section 8 is a better deal for the City than LNG or a casino. At a projected $30,000,000 from HUD for the current 2,000 Housing Choice Vouchers, the City's 20% cut would be about $6 million. That does not include any revenues for the HUD Project Based vouchers or Federal money for halfway houses, group homes and housing parolees. Of course, City Hall has a revenue enhancing strategy. It just doesn't include creating a more livable, prosperous community as a goal.

Firebug   |February.24.2009 Anonymous- As I recall the 1 percent of $1.5 billion assessed value for LNG would have brought in $15,000,000 to be shared by the City, School District, and County. How many PSU employees does $5,000,000 buy? a mere 25 at $200,000 a piece. The Walmart didn't even fund more than two PSU's. Notice that to get back to 2006-7 staffing levels we would need to fund 40 to 50 PSU's which means any business we bring will have $8 to 10 million shaved off the top by PSU's just to keep the dismall services we had in 06-07.

Curious Vallejo Resident   |February.24.2009 Streetsweeper, so are you guys cross trained? Why do we sub out the landscaping? Why aren't we paving the streets? I know the budget doesn't have money for this, but if this is what was done in the past when we did have money what are these guys doing now? What kind of work do you do when it is raining? Just trying to figure this out.

Vallejo Heights   |February.24.2009 Regarding LNG, the only place the federal government would allow that sort of facility now is offshore. I forget the exact distance required but it is substantial due to the fact that natural gas clouds, if released from such a facility, can travel quite a distance before they disperse. Until they disperse, they can be ignited by any open flame or spark. LNG was always a terrible idea for MI.

LMAO!   |February.24.2009 You have never witnessed the 5 plus employees that it takes to fill a pot hole? It probably takes more employees now since the pot holes are that much bigger. The supervisors, superintendents and assistants to, do very little but sit in their offices and stand around smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. That's their job and should be part of their job description. It really is a joke. But, to be fair, when it rains, the water, pump mechanics, street crews are working. The problem is they have a very low threshold, if any, for productivity so their is a lot of free time for driving 10 miles around town doing nothing.

Anonymous   |February.24.2009 VHS, the only "corporation" that we "newbies" pushed away was the LNG plant. I don't care how bad our financial situation is right now or in the future, I would still fight an LNG proposal today. It was/is the wrong direction for our city, and I don't want their dirty, dangerous money. For me, same goes for prisons and casinos. As far as WalMart, number one, they chose to go to AmCan. They said they wanted to open the White Slough site, but I don't think they ever had any intention of opening two superstores within a couple of miles of each other. It was just an insurance policy. But even so, whether you like WalMart or not, it didn't fit on the White Slough and would have violated the Specific Plan and probably never could have passed CEQA. That argument is smoke and mirrors. I don't see a whole lot of industry and business in Vallejo that the GOBs brought in over the past 30 years. They should have been setting us up to reap the benefits of their work today. Instead, we're having to clean up their messes.

streetsweeper   |February.24.2009 Not a dumb question at all The Corp yard has many types of workers. Along with streetsweeper equipment there is other heavy equipment to dig up streets to get to broken water pipes. We have cranes and bucket trucks to fix street lights or traffic lights. We also house the mechanics that work on all city vehicles incuding Psu equipment. Also when it rains we all have work to do believe me.

Curious Vallejo Resident   |February.24.2009 Streetsweeper, This may sound like a dumb question, but what do all the corp. yard people do when it rains? Actually, what do you guys do on a daily basis, my understanding is that your dept. works on roads, since there is no money for roads, I

silasbarnabe   |February.24.2009 I have to laugh at the OT misconceptions here, according to latest financial records it costs almost $200,000 to hire a full time PSU not including overtime. Even the slanted citygate report said that it was cheaper to pay overtime than hire a position at least in the fire department. And VHS I have never bought that you are reasonable and open to change your views. It has become abundantly clear that you only care about maintaining these contracts. If you don't like what captain or anyone writes you don't need read it just move along.

VHS   |February.24.2009 Thank you for those kind words, I enjoy reading well thought out posts as well. Of all the things people can get bunched up over, hypocrisy and elitism are the two that push me over the edge. It it wasnt for Streetsweeper, this site would be a graveyard; he is helping keep the conversation alive. To push SS away would really be a disservice to the people who have spent so much time in putting together the vib. Im probably a bit tone deaf to the rhetoric coming from the rank and file on the labor side. I have listened to it for so many years I dont react anymore. For my tax dollars I want people with attitude and braun on the police force. Considering the element in Vallejo they deal with on a regular basis, if they didnt start the job with a bad attitude I can understand how over time they become mean and nasty. For me its a case of accepting the bitter with the sweet. I assign equal blame to both the old guard managers of Vallejo and our new managers. The folks that fought against any and all new revenue sources, as flawed as they may have been, have achieved exactly what they pushed for. It was so sheik and politically correct to fight against the evil big corporations and so here we are. For those same people to now point out that we dont have the revenue to pay for services, well duh!

Anonymous   |February.23.2009 VHS I have always respected your opinion, and regardles of our opposing views, I still do. I admire your ability to reason, make points, and converse on all topics Vallejo. I always read your posts. I'm not sure why you support the PS contracts. Why support a "sweet deal" when the city is in financial despair? Seems to me the citizens of Vallejo have been getting a raw deal for sometime, and the city employees (including camp) have had a sweetheart deal for years. If you want to support the little guy then why not support the tax payers. I know that you know the demographics of Vallejo as well as anyone. So, you know that the little guy is the majority of the citizens and not the PSU employees. I'm missing something here. Hope you can help me understand where you're coming from.

Captain Fire Liar Liar   |February.23.2009 My god, what a childish comeback.. The numbers are all over this site. It continues to amaze me that the GEDers will believe and follow blindly any lawyer who leads them by the nose with such blather as the Rose Report. That trash holds the so called "numbers" that the Unions continue to view as "real". This site blew away the claims in that report and really any argument that has followed. So keep on trying, but nobody believe this BS wagon you're all pulling around and pointing at as reality.

Troll Alert   |February.23.2009 It's so funny when the Times Horrid bloggers come trolling over here. They say they can't stand us "VIBers", yet they report what we say over here on their nasty site, and create their stupid polls, and when they don't get stimulated enough, they come here and try and taunt us. What little lives they lead. I agree with On Fire though, at least Streetsweeper engages in dialogue, and doesn't feel the need to involve people's anatomies. I don't agree with his reasoning or logic mostly, but he's at least trying to think.

Captian Fire Liar   |February.23.2009 Captain Liar, Nope, not true. You made the claim, now show the numbers. Still waiting for On Fire Liar to respond...

On Fire   |February.23.2009 VHS, who are you talking about? So when do you get enough of the pompous blathering from the union boys and apologists like un-interesting, the sock puppet? Or is that blathering different? Not everyone here is saying they have the answers. Some are just fed up with BAU and continued irresponsible actions by the policy makers which is costing us big time and are sometimes "driven over the edge of civility" too. Or don't the "college educated" get to have those moments too? I mean, it is our money we are talking about. I don't have a problem with engaging in a dialog with people who have something to say and want to discuss the issues in a logical and civil manner. Like Street Sweeper.

VHS   |February.23.2009 Captain, I am increasingly impatient with know it alls who think they have all the answers. Some of the best insights on these complex societal problems can come from people with 8th grade educations. The college educated class has failed us big time and I am driven over the edge of civility at times with their pompous blathering.

On Fire   |February.23.2009 Captain, let's not forget the 333,333.00 payable for three years for "credits". Credits = salary cuts. NBR likes to play word games, but he gets stuck in the meanings! And spelling! Don't know why he continues to hang out with people he calls pseudo-intellectuals and elitists. Yet he feels compelled to come on over and converse. What does he care about what we are saying? He continually states that we don't matter, or that we don't know what we are talking about. All the while he pollutes the air like bad gas! Viva VIB

Captain   |February.23.2009 I'm talking total compensation - the cost to the tax payers - and IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

Captain Liar   |February.23.2009 Not true Captain Liar. You and On Fire Liar seem to think it's ok to tell a lie to make your points.

Captain   |February.23.2009 The problem with the VPOA "cuts" is that even with the "CUTS" they were still the highest paid department in the salary survey, and probably the state. Not much of a sacrafice.

On Fire   |February.23.2009 Oh NBR/Un-interesting, what's the matter? No one to play with over at the horrid? You've tried this same line too many times before. Don't want to play your games. Go back to the "horridites" and razzle dazzle them with your brilliance.

On Fire Liar   |February.23.2009 On Fire, Are you totally mistaken or simply telling lies? "The PD decided that it was more important to keep their salaries and perks, then it was to take a pay cut and hire more police" The PD took extensive cuts of salary and raises, about 15%. These are significant cuts. Who could blame them for not taking any more? "...Sandy, who has no background in HR or finance" She has a pretty extensive background in both. You all loved her before she made the deal with CAMP and VPOA. So what say you On Fire Liar?

Captain   |February.23.2009 VHS It was only a few weeks ago that you acknowledged Vallejo's "sweet deal for labor". Why can't you acknowledge tax payer pain. I saw your T-H post last week that seperated the argument into progressives vs. blue collar. It was kinda a class warfare piece that suprised me coming from you. I know your pro-labor and I respect your opinions. Whats up with your latest comments? Why the sudden change in tone?

John K   |February.23.2009 The dispute over release of an American Canyon report on firefighter bonuses is headed for a hearing, with a March court date on the Napa Register request to make the report public. http://tinyurl.com/b4rj6p

Fly on the Wall   |February.23.2009 Doh! Now why didn't I think of the overtime angle? Damn, may we should save money and make streetsweeper our city manager. Fact is many of these OT hours are contract based, not necessity. Henke and Riley only worked half last year if that much, yet both are over $250k. The rest of them are watching their big screens, shopping at Safeway, and blogging on the Times Horrid. I'd bet our city manager worked a tad bit harder than them last year.

On Fire   |February.23.2009 Street Sweeper, now there you go again, riling the masses. You're partially right, much of the bloated salaries are due to overtime. But that's only a part of the bigger problem. When you add all the little goodies along with the life time health benefits, and sweet deal retirements, you have a payroll that you can't afford. If the fire fighters (and your union) had sat down and worked out a deal two years ago, we may not be here today. There is little that the city can do to cut overtime now. There is no money to hire any more FF's. The only way out is to lay off people and not hire anyone else. They won't get enough money even if the UUT and many other taxes/fees are agreed to by the public. But from the climate we have now, I doubt that even an extension of the UUT will stand. So many other unions are working with their cities because they want to keep their fellow employees with jobs and keeping the city safe. At this point in time, you can't keep all your goodies and your jobs too. The PD decided that it was more important to keep their salaries and perks, then it was to take a pay cut and hire more police. The thinking on both sides of that fence were stupid. That the funded four and ozzy would listen to someone like Sandy, who has no background in HR or finance, and believe that it was a good deal. But that's exactly what they wanted Sandy to say, so that they could have an out for the decisions they made. I can almost bet money, that next year this time, when the city is bankrupt again, they will be pointing their fingers at Whitom and Sandy, claiming that they had bad advice. Only this time around, they will be met by the witnesses to that will negate what they say, and remind them that several people had advised them against it, and they didn't listen. Keep watching and paying attention. You had better start raising cane with your union heads to come up with some kind of deal. You can guess who gets the first pink slips.

VHS   |February.23.2009 Yes Streetsweeper, these people are far superior to you. Do you realize these people are capable of creating sophisticated products like Mortgage backed securities and credit default swaps. Yes, your poor little mind can only concentrate on the most basic common sense issues and an honest days work for an honest days pay. Please let the intellectuals of the world take care of high finance and the management of our cities and states. They have a fabulous track record to date.

Streetsweeper   |February.23.2009 See, I knew you folks would tear into me. If any blog about the PSU is anything less than a full out attack on them your not happy. Now I am showing my ignorance right? Ok, I will try to make this simple. IT'S THE OVERTIME STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!! Cut that and you solve most of the problem. If I worked as much overtime as fire You folks would have me on your list. I think I worked 60hr of over time last year so much less than 500hrs

Anonymous   |February.23.2009 Streetsweeper, you're showing your ignorance again, sweetie. Just step away from the keyboard.

Captain   |February.23.2009 While I believe all these salarys should be scrutinized, #5 on the list requires attention. Fire inspector Gregory White received 244,000 dollars. I can only speak for myself, but that is pure BS. In Vallejo, when someone transfers from a 56.3 hour position to a 40 hour per week position their pay stays the same even though they work less 16 hours less and aren't in any "danger". I'm sure Vallejo could find FIRE inspectors for much less (are building inspectors making that money) if it weren't for the 1186 contract that stipulates only FD employees with 5 years of service in the VFD are eligable for this position. So, the only people allowed to apply are vallejo Firefighters. Of course, and here's the tricky part, they have to be willing to work 40 hours instead of 56. Why this person is permitted to work this amount of overtime is beyond me. The only promotional position that Vallejo can recruit is the fire chief. Every other position is contractually obligated to be promoted from within as long as there is someone qualified. In true 1186 fashion, the qualifications amount to not much more than 5 years service in VFD. I don't know the circumstances of this individual so I'm only using him as an example as to what's wrong in this department/contract - that's my disclaimer.

Streetsweeper   |February.23.2009 Ok, so if you take the highest paid fire guy and devide his base salary by 26 pay periods of 80hrs he makes $80 hr. And, if you take his overtime of $74797.00 and divide that by $120hr, his overtime rate, he ends up working 623hrs extra. If you take Joe's salary of $301,437.00 and divide it by 26 pay periods at 64hr, that's two weeks, you get $181hr. Wow, I thought Sandy was bad at $140hr. Now that if he is working 4 days a week. If he works 5 days a week he would make $145hr.

STAFF CAN'T FIND CM EVAL. FOR   |February.23.2009 After several calls to HR and the City Attorneys Office I was informed that Staff does not know if the the original evalution form for the City Manager was revised. Nor does Staff know whether the Criteria that the Mayor said would be shared with the Public was ever created. THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENT. BACKGROUND About 6 months ago when the City Managers evaluation was to occur the Public was highly critical of evaluation form and suggested modifications. To date the Public has no idea of what goals were established for the City Manager. You would think that City Council would like the Public to know. More recently I asked on several occasions (including the last City Council meeting) whether the Criteria for evaluating the City Manager would be made available to the Public. Unless a violation of the Brown Act occurred in the past 2 weeks City Council has not met to develop any criteria. Once again a highly unprofessional and amateur approach is being pursued by City Council in evaluating the City Managers performance.

Street sweeper   |February.23.2009 Your comparing a city manager with a fire department employee is WHY you are a street sweeper.

Captain   |February.23.2009 Here is a link from a story that encourages Davis residents not to go where Vallejo has gone (or something like that). Anyway, here is a link to six pages of Vallejo W2's with overtime numbers. I don't think this includes benefits: http://davisvanguard.com/Documents/100K%20Club%20of%20Vallejo.pdf

Edinator   |February.23.2009 Fellas, Just click the link to see the base salaries and overtime breakdown. I used an estimated number for the benefits because it is very convoluted and hard to calculate exactly for each employee. Remember, Tanner rolled his benefits into his salary and took them as cash. This is the alleged 42% raise the unions claim he took.(not true) So, looking at total compensation in comparisons is important. Of course, we can fault Tanner for pushing up his retirement payout. That's a fair criticism.

Hey Mark   |February.23.2009 If you want to be fair. Then why dont you list the base wages of the top ten paid public employees. This would be a more accurate assessment. Then why were at it we need to look at how many days each month the employee works. I'm in city hall and some on your list work less than 20 days a month. I am not for the fire union, but you need to make a creditable argument if you want support from other than the quire.

Streetsweeper   |February.23.2009 While I agree these fire salaries are insane you should also list how much of these amounts are overtime.Tanner works 4 days a week right? That's part of his pay cut of 10%. So he makes his large salary on 4 days a week? Plus he sold the police deal to council as a good one? What $ has he brought to the city? I do not want the mayor as the commander in town but do not see much value in Joe with his track record and price tag. Ok now you folks can tear into me.

Anonymous   |February.23.2009 I just looked at the staff report for tomorrows council meeting. I'm sure many of you have already read the report. There are two things that jump off the pages. I'm sure there are more issues but my focus was on the GF and Utility tax: 1) The GF update is from page 100 - 114 in my browser. Page 111, "Impact of 12 million (20%)in reductions". The report refers to the impact of 20% cost reductions in terms of head count. Not once do they even entertain the possibility of reduced wages or benefits. I went back and looked at financials, policepay.net analysis, and made adjustments to account for VPD agreeing to Kiaser North. If you reduced VPD total comp by 13% they would be in the median of the 17 city comparison study. 2) The UUT Tax, page 226 in my browser. Apparently the city Gov. wants to put together a citizens advisory committe to help promote the tax. It just strikes me as funny! In case anyone needs the link to the staff report, here it is: http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/GovSite/default.asp?serviceID1=253

Firebug   |February.23.2009 Here the City has undergone prosthesis with the exception of the only limbs it has left Public Safety and now they went an augmentation? I am trying very hard not to imagine a legless person with large boobs.

Anonymous   |February.23.2009 Oh my, On Fire, that was hilarious and yet so appropriate!

On Fire   |February.23.2009 I was told that the agenda item referred to Revenue Augmentation. My first thought was that the PC wording would have been "revenue enhancement" as augmentation sounds like a boob job. I then realized that the original wording was correct, it is a boob job. Complements of the boobs - ozzy and the funded four.

Firebug   |February.23.2009 They could also sneak the tax in this May during the State special election.

Angry Taxpayer   |February.23.2009 Because the Osby and the other four wanted to give their campaign contributors (and supporters of Strong Mayor most likely) a sweet deal. They were betting that the public would feel forced to approve taxes in November because the budget situation is so terrible. They didn't care what the citizens thought of the police deal, they didn't listen, they didn't even show the respect to appear to listen. So when they make their NEW TAX appeals to us voters in November, I will be giving them the same treatment in return. See how they like it. No new taxes or fees. And vote NO on the UUT -- give yourselves a tax break Vallejo!

UUT REVENUE MIGHT STOP THIS DE   |February.23.2009 I was offically informed that if the User Utility Tax (UUT) is not renewed by the voters ,that the revenues from UUT will stop as of December 2009 (annualized rate $5.2M). On top of the $12M deficit forecast by Mr. Stout the UUT shortfall will bring the deficit for fiscal year 2009/10 to $15M. It seems that the powers to be are trying to spin an overly optimistic picture of the City's finances. I question how the five City Council Members could have voted for the wage increase (10% or more)for police in 2010 knowing that the budget shortfall in 2010/11 will probably climb to at least $20M.

BAU   |February.23.2009 Anon, just another good example why 5/7 of Council is clueless when it comes to running our city. Salerno is a joke and everybody knows it.

Anonymous   |February.23.2009 ...or they are just bought.

Anonymous   |February.23.2009 Wow, CoCo County Sheriff's Dept is having to lay off up to 75 deputies because of budget problems. I thoughtSandy Salerno said that the Council had to take the VPOA deal because otherwise our officers would go to other cities/counties and we couldn't find more cops to hire because "nobody" would ever lay off cops. Looks like the fear card that was played was a lie. But the Funded Four and Ozzie bought it hook, line and sinker.

PSU Watch   |February.23.2009 Yeah right, Anon. If you follow that logic, we'd have to lay off almost the entire fire department. Over 20 of them made over $250,000 last year. Ray Dandridge made $287,000. Tanner made $312,000. The CEO of our city makes just $25,000 more than a firefighter who probably has just a GED, maybe one of those fake college degrees from Alameda U? So the real reason why this is happening isn't about money. It's about power. This is Ozzy's first step towards his Strong Mayor power grab. And most likely Henke called the Funded Four and ordered them to vote to get rid of the one man who has ever been able to beat him.

silasbarnabe   |February.23.2009 So now I understand what staff will ask council to do. According to the City Employee Herald they want to extend the UUT to water, sewer, and garbage bills. Looks like the UUT isn't going to the voters for phone, cable, and gas. I can see how this one will end, but something worth pondering is there a way to get the UUT to the voters on cable, gas, and phone? The Intintoli-Curtola era Council slipped that one in late one night in 1986 without voter approval.

Anonymous   |February.22.2009 because we cant afford him anymore?

Confused   |February.22.2009 I read the city council agenda for Tuesday and am shocked that there is an item on there asking if the council will discontinue the city manager's contract. What's up with this? Why would the council even consider this right in the middle of bankruptcy and the worst economic crisis of our country in decades? Does anybody here know why this is happening now?

silasbarnabe   |February.22.2009 OnFire, Removing San Diego and inserting Vallejo is not entirely accurate. How do we get a Mayor like San Diego has? Seeing a real strong Mayor makes me realize how bad a deal the citizens of Vallejo have been dealt at the hands of our tough negotiator jelly spined Ozzy Davis.

On Fire   |February.22.2009 Thanks for the links Captain. Stories like this are coming out so fast and numerous that I can't keep up with them. This same concern is being played out allover the country. It appears that the only people that don't get it as a whole, is the unions. This one comment says it all: �The city of San Diego does not exist to provide jobs to city workers,� Matthews said. �City workers exist to provide us with needed services, and we decide what the needed services are.� Take out "San Deigo" and insert "Vallejo".

Captain   |February.22.2009 Here is a must read article out of San Diego: Sanders pursues benefit, pay cuts http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/22/1m22mayor235859-sanders-pursues-benefit-pay-cuts/?zIndex=56713 "Valorie Matthews, 63, was among the parade of people who told the council how

silasbarnabe   |February.22.2009 AT, I think signing the petition has already helped us organize, there are 6800 highly motivated taxpayers that want to see change. We need to build on that base during a new signature drive. The great thing is that there is almost never over 10,000 votes for any single issue in this town, with 6800 signatures we can say no to tax increases and are a short way off of using the signature base to get new candidates elected. OnFire, I have suspicions that Ozzy and the funded are are not just going through the motions for these taxes. I beleive they will be using the poll numbers to further their own agenda in the upcoming elections. Its nice not to have to pay for to poll voters and see what tax issues they are most interested in. I do agree with you about bringing some taxes forth for the BK judge but I also feel if they lose the UUT extension they will go before the judge and ask that that tax to conitnue to be levied, since it is already exisiting revenue.

Angry Taxpayer   |February.22.2009 Yes, we need to organize! No new taxes/fees until the council controls employee costs and proves it is fiscally responsible with our money. And if Bartenke and Sunga think they can sail into reelection after what they've done to this city for the sake of their precious unions, they'd better think twice. How are we going to organize against union $$ bankrolling candidates and support for new taxes and fees? Is it possible?

On Fire   |February.22.2009 Silas, I'm wondering if the city is discussing the tax proposals simply because we are in bankruptcy and wanting to demonstrate that we are trying to raise revenues? We already know that even with new businesses that may come to town, it will be awhile before any new revenues are generated. So maybe they have to demonstrate to the court that they are seeking new sources of revenues to help erase some of the debt? I think if that is the case, then they need to think about how much money they would be wasting by really moving this forward. Solano's unemployment rate is higher than other Bay counties. The State is cutting assistance to those who are in the most need, including our seniors. Do they really think by further taxing our low income seniors with more taxes and fees is the way to keep the city's employees in the lifestyle? If they think our homeless situation is bad, we will soon see a new population of homeless, our senior citizens.

Anonymous   |February.22.2009 Working (still) for an international company with good benefits. Aproximately 4 years ago the previous, no contribution from employee, healthplan was discontinued. Different health plans are still available per region, but part of that now hefty cost is born by the employee with a large co-pay at time of physician visit. Dental and vision are now an option, no longer included as before. A flexible spending plan with a $2000 cap has been implemented at the time the new health plans came on board. I consider myself fortunate to have #1 a job, # 2 a healthplan although I have to contribute a chunk of my wages to that. I am not feeling the love from my unionized employees! Stop your bellyaching, at the present time you have a great job with benefits that are way over the top. I do not begrudge you what you are making wage wise, however health care plan costs have to be shared. Why do any of you feel I, as the employer, have to provide full health care benefits not only to you, but the whole family, in many instances for life? Just my opinion, and btw, I am not supporting any new taxes or fees, as long as these rich give-aways are in force.

silasbarnabe   |February.22.2009 Robert, Apparently only one or some of the UUT taxes are up for renewal if the amount is only $5.2 million. I saw in the CAFR entry at $12.7 million this could mean we would be voting only on the cable portion, or phone portion? I know they had spoke of a 911 fee but that would require a 2/3 vote to win. I think they will be going for things that require a simple majority. Mello Roos and CFD's all require 2/3 of the residents to affirm the tax and with the well known disaster with the Mare Island CFD I doubt 2/3 of residents would vote for it. They could solicit developers of large land parcels to agree to a future CFD as they would only need the vote of the developer, but in these tough economic times no one wants a sell new homes with a Mello Roos hanging over them. Someone is drunk on the staff if they really think they can pull this off. I have been speaking to more and more people around the City and some of them (Because of the Times Horrid) didn't even know there was raises in the new VPOA contract signed by Ozzie and the funded four. It is great getting the word out as even before that knowledge few supported voting for taxes.

Vallejo Resident   |February.22.2009 Now is the time to organize to fight any new taxes or union backed city council members. Where do I sign up?

Robert Schussel   |February.21.2009 In reading the Staff notes it is obivious that someone doesn't want Staff to admit that there is a high likelihood that the UUT won't be renewed and has left this scenario out of their budget planning. Item 13C for next Tuesdays City Council is about revenue enchancements such as a Parcel tax and UUT.The potential for losing $5.2M if the UUT is not renewed is discussed. A $110K budget is suggested for Polls,consultants,Community meetings and legal fees etc to raise more revenues. Staff says that Cities that have protected existing revenues such as UTT have used Consultants. However Staff admits ( in just one sentence) that Polls will show a low probability of support for additional taxes.Staff believes the possibility of informing voters on the necessity of new revenues to get more services might exist.COMMENT I DON'T SEE HOW THIS EFFORT WILL SUCCEED UNTIL SERVICES ARE FIRST DRAMATICALLY CUT. In Council item 11A (quarterly budget update) the only projection is for fiscal 2009/10 with a $12M shortfall. No mention is made that an additional shortfall of $5.2M is likely to occur because the UUT will not be renewed. COMMENT I Believe that the majority of City Council is reluctant to let the citizens know that every service except Public Safety will disappear and that even among Public Safety cuts will occur.

City Employee   |February.21.2009 I think all employees should pay a portion of our health care. Standardizing it among the employee groups would make it easier to administer and removes a chip that stupid councils can give away in future contract negotiations. And as Gomes said, it would help stop employees from hating on each other for having more or less than others.

Waz up wid dat?   |February.21.2009 Hey, allin yourselves with the private sector. We ALL have different medical coverage and benefits. I dont agree this time with Council woman Gomes on this one, not all jobs in private sector have the same benefits, so maybe different unions should have different benefits. After all, many of us feel the city workers work for their union, not for the city.

Streetsweeper   |February.21.2009 Never said I expect to have 100% of my health care paid. I said all employees should have the same health care plan. What city has seperate plans depending on what job you have? So the workers who make the least amount of money should pay the most for health care? The city needs help but it is not a dump yet. Labor costs are only one part of the problem with Vallejo. Revenue or lack of it is the other part and also the leadership or lack of.

This is for street sweeper   |February.21.2009 The budget has not been "fine" for 20 years and non-public employees "have" cared. Unfortunately, our elected officials did not and still don't. They approve contracts that are not sustainable, period. You need to deal with the fact that anyone can replace you at your job and you should be paying at least 1/2 for your medical benefits. Your constant whimpering about being picked on is old. At some point you will get it through your thick head that we are not willing to fork over any tax money towards y salaries, 100% paid health benefits OR the quantity of paid days off and holidays you enjoy. We get mediocre services for paying premium salaries. The towns a dump.

silasbarnabe   |February.21.2009 Please see powers of the debtor http://www.uscourts.gov/bankruptcycourts/bankruptcybasics/chapter9#powers I agree thast the judge cannot levy "new" taxes, but it gets muddy for me about maintaining an existing tax.

A judge can NOT   |February.21.2009 levy a tax.

silasbarnabe   |February.21.2009 Robert, The strange thing is with this deficit coming I am of the belief that Vallejo will not have completed BK yet which means more burdensome items will need to be added to the "petition for BK". The biggest one will be the VPOA contract which the city already cannot afford to pay and if it is breached the PSU lawyer charges could also be added to the petition. It is probable they know the tax will fail and might want the issue brought before the judge, but I do know how taxes are levied is in the California constitution and PSU contracts are not. The Jarvis taxpayer group would have a field day suing to bring this one before both the California and Federal Supreme courts. Either way, if they lose the tax and the judge decides to levy one, it would be years before they actually could collect a nickel of it. That road would likely mean the end to Ozzie and the funded four politically so it is puzzling. I can't figure out why they want to go down this road and not put BA on the fast track rather than the slow boat.

Streetsweeper   |February.21.2009 Robert, what is the deal with health care for the city council? I was told that if they serve five years they get health care for life. Is this true? Also if they waive the health care they get $500 a month for doing that. Is this true?

No Whining   |February.21.2009 Streetsweeper, stop spreading lies. The Council does NOT get health care for life, no matter how many years they serve. They just get health care while they are serving. Stop lying and stop whining.

ALL NON PSU SERVICES WILL STOP   |February.21.2009 I wanted to quote an excerpt from Robert Stouts (City's Finance Director) document to City Council on Tuesday--Admin item 11A. The below is in reference to the $12M budget deficit that will require a 20% budget reduction p13. " Perhaps the most appropiate way to help grasp the size of the problem is to point out that the ELIMINATION OF THE COST OF EVERY SINGLE FUNCTION of the City's General Fund except public safety WILL STILL LEAVE US SHORT OF THE AMOUNT NEEDED". Will Vallejo burns the majority of City Council stills fiddles.

Streetsweeper   |February.21.2009 When the economy was good nobody cared about what we made or our benefits. PSU was a issue but not us. Our members are the lowest payed employees that average 60k under the general fund. Why is the city asking our members to pay the most for health care? Why is it the department heads and council not leading by example when it comes to giving up concesions? They have full health care and only have to do 5 years on the council for health care for the rest of their lives. Also our retirees pay 41 percent of their medical now, nobody else in the city retires and has to pay that. I will help out but I will vote no on any deal that does not treat us like the other city employees. We have gotten screwed over the years many times and I think we are done with that now. Healthcare should be the same for all of us even if it means we have to pay for it. That's fair right?

Robert Schussel   |February.21.2009 Silas I am familair with the Poll about the UUT as I criticised the TH for how it interpreted the data. The 53% is highly misleading as it includes people who rarely vote. Those who vote in most elections were opposed to renewing the TAX. The Consultant said passage would be problematic. A nice way of saying highly unlikely to pass. Remember this was done prior to PSU member wages being disclosed and the subprime meltdown. In addition the State wants 4 tax initiatives passed by the Voters in May. In my professional opinion until massive layoffs occur no new taxes or renewals will occur in Vallejo.A service meltdown will need to cause some pain first.

silasbarnabe   |February.21.2009 Robert some interesting reading from Mr. Stout on the UUT tax extension including a poll conducted last year showing that a 53 percent of voters supported the extension, they only need a simple majority to extend it but none the less I am certain that number has dropped lower. http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/uploads/712/Dkt.%20No.%20134%20-%20Declaration%20of%20Rob%20Stout.pdf This tax uprising against public safety costs isn't only in Vallejo. I found this link to a no tax site for Hemet Ca. http://www.no2o.org/myths Robert I also found this site, it looks like Mr. Stout is the contact on the UUT for Vallejo. http://www.uutinfo.org/

Robert Schussel   |February.21.2009 If the UUT is voted down does anyone know when the tax stops. Is it eliminated as of Dec 2009 or does it continue for awhile.

Fly on the Wall   |February.21.2009 WazUp, I was talking to my brother today who owns a business. He said a few years ago, this engineer came in demanding $200k plus benefits, and he had no choice but to give it to him. Now things have changed a d he can get two engineers for what he's been paying the old one. He told the old one he can keep his job and get $100k a year with the new hire or he can leave. He chose to take the cut and stay because he needed the job. Point being, the market has changed drastically. People are happy just to have a job. Yet our PSUs with their union flag wrappd around them are demanding the same pay, plus guaranteed raises. This Council should have offered what the city could afford to pay, which would have bee reduced salaries and bennies, and the Unions should have been thankful their members had jobs at all. But our idiotic Council majority gives it away and promises pay and raises that is so yesterday. When will these people get it that this world has changed and will never be the same?

Waz up wid dat?   |February.21.2009 Streetsweeper, I work in the private sector. Recenty, due to the slow down in my industry, my boss who is a small business owner (30 employees) cut my hours to 35 per week,discontinued our 401k contribution (it was 2% of our gross) stopped dental and vision, and stopped paying for any new employees spouces medical coverage. Our medical is blue cross with a $50.00 co-pay. He also let go an employee that works along side of me, so now I do both our jobs for less pay. All the employees are willing to take the cuts and work harder, as we dont want our company to go under. It's not so fun at work any more, working twice as hard for less money and benefits. I posted this example a few months ago on the VIB, a PSU wrote in that maybe we should unionize and get better pay and benefits, funny, huh? Union mentality,who cares if the business goes under, it's all about the union and how much power they can exact over an employer. It's time to get real, government jobs should be alligned with private sector, after all, citizens who are mostly private sector are paying the wages of the government workers, it doesnt make us happy to know how well government is doing off the average joe's taxes...

silasbarnabe   |February.21.2009 The UUT tax extension by the laws of our land is being put before the voters. Right now because of a flawed City Charter and a pro PSU (Anti-citizen) council majority that will not fix the charter, we are left with the decision of continuing to fund this madness or not.

Anonymous   |February.20.2009 Silas, we are in the hole already due to the stupid council and mayor and you want a big TAXCUT?! You are no less living in a dream than them, your logic and reasoning is EXTREMELY FLAWED! No increase in taxes should be levied, the state is after us already, but you can't cut them, either!

City employees   |February.20.2009 are not suffering. I enjoy reading his/her comments. I worked for the city. City employees, including the IBEW, are overpaid, under educated for the pay they do get, have layers upon layers of overpaid supervisors that do absolutely nothing all day but drink coffee and smoke cigarettes. The laziness, waste, and stupidity at the Corp yard is real. Theft is too, side businesses, as well. Street sweeper is not suffering and I a good cleansing of the masses at the cit would be a good thing for Vallejo taxpayers. Quit being a thankless butt hole.

silasbarnabe   |February.20.2009 Streetsweeper, Can you give us reasons after all the majority of bought and paid for council has done to harm the City? Why should we vote to extend the UUT tax? Chief Nicholini has offerred nothing in how to deal with our poor Police service situation except for asking for more money, the council has ignored fiscal reason and approved contracts (just like they did before) that we cannot afford which led us to BK in the first place. To date this council has refused to deal with huge fiscal drains like binding arbitration so tell us why we should give this council more money with no accountability.

Steetsweeper   |February.20.2009 The reason I use this site is because this site is important to keep the city in check. Even if I do not always agree with your views here I think about what you folks have to say. After this battle is settled if all of us do not work to solve this huge financial problem, we are toast. Things are bad now, and if we do not act it will be out of control.

Anonymous   |February.20.2009 Robert, I'd like some of them drugs the Council & PSUs are taking -- its sounds like wonderful hallucinations of all the cash they think they see in our future. But coming down from that trip will be a real bummer - it'll be the Vallejoans that do, not fair, we never got the good trip!

Robert Schussel   |February.20.2009 Silas Try a projection of S13.07M for the Utility TAX. I guess there is a lot of optimism,especially among City Council and the PSU.

Anonymous   |February.20.2009 It seems that the Unions are city busting, so maybe it's time to drop the Politically Correct rejection of the term Union Busting. Maybe Union Busting aint so bad when it applies to Vallejo

silasbarnabe   |February.20.2009 Robert, If I read the CAFR's correctly if the UUT tax is not extended they lose another $12.7 million.

SNEAK PREVIEW CITY COUNCIL   |February.20.2009 1) Estimated General Fund deficit $12M for Fiscal Yr 2009/10. Assumes service and compensation levels now in place during pendancy and other "key cost and policy assumptions". Assumes that propery taxes (decline 8%) and sales taxes (6% decline) AND CITY WILL GET ALL OF THE MONEY FROM LENNAR,SCHOOLS (for Police). MY COMMENT --PROPERTY TAX DECLINE WILL PROBABLY ACCELERATE IN FUTURE YEARS. 2)Admin Item 13F CITY MANAGERS REVIEW (and letter of non renewal included) COMMENT --SINCE CRITERIA WAS NEVER DETERMINED HOW CAN A PROPER REVIEW OCCUR.Remember the CM's goals were never shared with the Public. Robert Schussel

On Fire   |February.20.2009 Street Sweeper, first off, what exactly is your definition of "union busting"? There are unions all over the country, that are recognizing the financial situation in their cities. They are coming to the table, on their own, and giving up salary raises, cutting benefits, and working with their cities to save jobs and maintain the safety of the cities. So are those unions, "union busting"? Far too many times, the term "union busting" is thrown out by union members, anytime the employer even thinks about asking for concessions. That's not union busting. If the union leaders here would have acted like they had any concern over the population of Vallejo, they would have done the same thing that Santa Rosa's union did. That goes a long way to restore credibility of the unions, and then making the taxpayers more open to agreeing to a tax hike to help offset what was given up by the union members. Because our union leaders feel that the only way is to damage the city as much as it can, just to prove their "manhood", then more and more people in Vallejo are saying, hell no, not another red cent. The unions here in Vallejo, will become the poster child for Unions Gone Bad across the country, putting a bigger black mark on unions as a whole. So stop with this union busting nonsense. That's not what the city is doing. The city asked for the unions to come to the table and renegotiate their contracts, so that the city could continue to function. The unions said no. That's what took the city to bankruptcy court. Never did the city intend or try to stop people from being a union member, having a union, or maintaining a union. Wikipedia: Union busting is a term used by trade unions and others to describe a wide range of activities undertaken by employers, their proxies, and governments, which hinder workers from freely organizing, joining and maintaining trade unions.

curious   |February.20.2009 Streetsweeper... You are 100% right. You spoilsport unions wanted to make sure that the community suffered big time so that we would cave to your outrageous parasitic demands. So you succeeded. The community is suffering. Unfortunqtely you don't seem to get it that it is unlikely that families with a $53,000/year income are pass a tax to pay you guys 2 to 5 times that. So while all you union guys sit in your vehicles collecting your fat salaries while the city devolves around you, the sirens scream, you drive busily down the middle of the street brushes rotating wildly while the trash remains under the cars, and no one will respond to the community because you will 'show us what happens if you don't get your way'. Isn't that extortion?

Streetsweeper   |February.20.2009 PSU Watch, are you saying that there was some other reason other than breaking the contracts for bankruptcy? If not, that's union busting. The city said the unions offer was not enough money then they put in place the pendency plan that locked wages at current rates. Next they spent 4 or 5 million on legal fees right? Where does that money come from? Then they give the cops a deal close to what they offered before bankruptcy with raises and a contract extension plus full medical. CAMP gets a deal with a extension till 2013 with raises also. As far as who wins this it won't matter now because the damage is done and most of the money is spent. When this labor battle is done I do not think there will be much to happy about.

PSU Watch   |February.20.2009 SS, you say that bankruptcy was just a "union busting" effort. Sounds like you've been drinking too many cheap well vodka martinis with Henke and the boys again. Bankruptcy wasn't a labor war, it was a last ditch effort to keep this city running. If bankruptcy wasn't declared, the city would have run out of money and not been able to pay employees or creditors. It would have had to shut down essentially. Because the unions refused to negotiate a reasonable compromise before the bankruptcy declaration, we ended up here. If the city has to go to the Supreme Court, then so be it. Labor caused this, labor will ultimately be the Biggest Losers.

Firebug   |February.20.2009 In its current form there is no way the Supreme court will find in favor of unions. I also beg to differ about everyone losing, one thing is for sure the citizens have been losing for decades. Now that the PSU's are losing we keep hearing about making nice.

Anonymous   |February.20.2009 Yes, can't WAIT to hear what Roberts & Scalia have to say about those contracts...then your gig will REALLY be up, all over the USA not just Vallejo.

streetsweeper   |February.20.2009 Fire Bug, are you saying unions do well with the Supreme Court? Or not? My point is that no matter who wins, we all will be losers because the city will be in a financial horror for a long time and many of us employees will be on the street. Even if the economy turns around at some point for other cities, Vallejo will still be paralized from the after effects of this bankruptcy and labor battle.

Firebug   |February.20.2009 SS, And we know hoe much the Supreme court loves unions!

streetsweeper   |February.20.2009 PSU Watch, this is what happens when a labor war is started. When the city decided to use bankruptcy to only union bust and not go after any other creditors they picked one hell of a fight. Now this mess will end up at the Supreme Court and end up costing much more than 2 million. National labor does not want the courts to allow bankruptcy to be used for union busting and they will most likely fund this battle to the end. It is sad because the public and employees will get screwed in the end.

Anonymous   |February.20.2009 1186 put out a letter to SoCal unions asking for support/attendance at the court hearings.

PSU Watch   |February.20.2009 You go firefighters! Vallejo has no money, is facing another $12 million deficit in July, but you keep appealing the bankruptcy ruling to the 9th Circuit. You keep questioning whether the city is bankrupt. You keep running the city further into the ground. Claim those victories! I just love the other cities firefighers going to the hearing in So Cal "in solidarity" for Vallejo's firefighters. Whatever happened to public servants? Whatever happened to caring about your citizens and the communities you serve? When did it become all about yourselves?

Captain   |February.20.2009 Orrick Argues for Vallejo Bankruptcy "Marc Levinson, who represents the City of Vallejo, says he feels ?pretty good? about his performance, but that the judges hinted that they could remand the case to the 9th Circuit even if they affirm Vallejo?s eligibility for bankruptcy protection." http://www.law.com/jsp/tal/digestTAL.jsp?id=1202428462515

Captain   |February.20.2009 Ozby & Mustard qouted in USA Today article: In California's meltdown, misery has long reach http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-02-19-california-hurting_N.htm

On Fire   |February.20.2009 So Binding Arbitration seems to interfer with the City's pendancy plan? I know that this is only a tenative decision, but it would also then seem, that if the court allows the city to re-open the contracts, the unions would then need to "really" negotiate a new contract, and not use BA as a recourse to get their CBA's back. It makes snese, if the city can't pay the salaries agreed upon in the contracts, goes to court declaring bankruptcy, why then would the unions get to use BA as a tool to again override the court's decision. So in theory, BA is again shown to be a tool by the unions to get their way, and disregard the fact that the city has no money to pay these salaries to begin with. One more argument to get rid of BA I would think, if this is the case. IAFF just wants to break the city until there is nothing left. Will be anxiously waiting on the analysis Marc. Thanks for the update.

Curious   |February.20.2009 We are all paying the price for the Republican Party's "borrow and spend" philosophy as opposed to the Democratic Party's "tax and spend" philosophy. America has borrowed so much money from other country's like China and Saudi Arabia now that the interest is killing us. We need fiscal "spend only what you have" restraint because as the global situation gets worse, no one will loan America or California money. Just like those that buy Redevelopment Bonds won't take a chance ever again on Vallejo. America responded to the collapse of the Soviet Union by thinking that event signalled the supremecy of the Free Market economic religion. The Soviet Union got their comeupance first because several horrible wars, revolutions and years of environmental degradation weakened them. America's reved up free market world view was just as dumb and we are all paying the price now. "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword". America is dying from its addiction to the current economic free market world view. "Growth" is gone along with "more" but those that have long profitted from it keep dancing harder. More smoke, more mirrors. If crime increases, those of us that care about our safety and quality of life will just need to move to someplace where the unions don't run the town. That is the correct way to respond in a free market "choice" system; vote with your consumer dollars. The only way to get the GOB's attention is to sue them, cut off their money or throw those that don't get democracy out of office at the quickest opportunity.

Angry Taxpayer   |February.20.2009 Good point, FB. My answer then will be "NO," and my answer in November to any tax or fee proposal will be "NO." Until I see fiscal responsibility on the state and city level, they don't get any more of my hard-earned money.

Firebug   |February.20.2009 We may see something as early as May when the State holds its special election to let us decide if they should "borrow money on future lottery funds".

Angry Taxpayer   |February.20.2009 Actually, voting is the only way the Funded Four & Ozzy will listen to the people. They have shown a complete disregard for the residents of this city, their arrogance is astounding, they don't feel the need to explain their votes, they don't listen to what anybody says but the people with the big bucks. Well you know what guys? Ultimately, we the voters have the most money because you have to ask us to raise our taxes. Well, we're voting "HELL NO" to your taxes in November. Then what will you do?

Firebug   |February.20.2009 Selecting new leadership from outside of Vallejo is telling. I am glad the membership at large is seeing that the Vallejo leadership is toxic. I expect to see a lot of pandering and fear mongering to extract more tax money from Vallejoans. I will not be supporting the UUT tax extension or the host of new taxes the City will be seeking. This is our chance as voters to tell the Council we do not approve of their spending priorities, and signing contracts we clearly cannot afford. Just like Ozzy and the bought four voted with reckless abandon towards taxpayers, we can cast our vote and show them how we feel!

From Vallejo   |February.20.2009 How does expressing my opinion make me a jerk? Dan Sarna comes off as a nice guy, don't get me wrong, but, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

momster   |February.20.2009 I think VHS is Sarna.

VHS   |February.20.2009 From Vallejo, you are a jerk.

From Vallejo   |February.20.2009 Dan Sarna would be the worst choice. This man has no scrupples.

silasbarnabe   |February.20.2009 Wasn't Riley from a long line of Vallejo families? We all know how he has worked for us.

VHS   |February.19.2009 Dan Sarna is a good man, I would like to see him in a leadership position.

ANONYMOUS   |February.19.2009 If your attorney is losing your case and costing you lots of money, I would recommend you get rid of him. From what I have heard he is going to get to leave, he would be an idiot to stay and work for a City he doesn't even want to live in???? What happened to the part of his contract that said he HAD to move into Vallejo within his first year??? I assume ozzzie negoitated that extenstion too??? or was it Schively?? If he leaves like Schively tells us, I hope she gets the correct cell phone number from him so she doesn't make the same mistake she did last time, when she REALLY broke the Brown Act by calling Kemp, when she meant to call Guiliani?? How soon we forget...

ANONYMOUS   |February.19.2009 I would rather see Sarna as our Fire Chief vs. the head of the Union. We need at least one local department head. A guy that has his roots here in Vallejo and has worked his way up from the bottem. My kind of guy, plus I think he could work well with the Local IAFF.....

On Fire   |February.19.2009 The angry boys at the horrid seem to think that people are more than willing to pay more taxes because of the fear of the diminishing police force. I for one, refuse to pay any more taxes while we have the funded four and the oz, making decisions that keep us moving backwards. Crime rates have been worse here, even when we had a full dept. of police employees. We haven't seen any real change in crime patterns even as they go up and down. They have never found a solution for downtown druggies and prostitutes. They haven't solved the problem of drug dealers in so many of our neighborhoods. Problems just seem to chased from area to area, without ever ever being resolved. The crime that is resolved, seems to happen because of the citizens getting involved and being vigilant. Until the chief can become more responsive to the community he serves, and draws a hefty salary from, I see no reason to help him build his dynasty, without seeing accountability. We need more police, but how much more do they think we should have to pay? When we hear that more tax increases are coming with the new CA budget, and money is getting tighter and tighter, it is getting beyond ridiculous. The only way that we can stop this from happening, is to make sure we turn out the vote, and check the box that says "No more taxes". Not until they get our fiscal house in order.

Anonymous   |February.19.2009 Why Now? Do you really want to change city managers during the middle of this mess. Thay's like switching attorneys during the middle of a trial. Bad Move. Not sure I even take this post seriously.

ear at the door   |February.19.2009 I hear Henke is out. Dan Sarna is a possible replacement. Dan a lifelong Vallejo guy. It would be nice to see Tanner and Henke go. Tanner did his job now its time to go in another direction

silasbarnabe   |February.19.2009 I am not so certain Maldonado's career is really over. One of his terms was to have the 12 cent gas tax removed from the budget deal, and he succeeded. He could probably get re-elected with big oil money.

Waz up wid dat?   |February.19.2009 I have a question, of the IAFF, 1186 board members, in which all postions were filled by Vallejo 1186 members, were any of the postions actually filled by firefighters that LIVE in Vallejo? It looks like the rest of the surrounding cities got sick of following the dictate of the Vallejo 1186. They are actually following the demands of out of towners, who have other interests, not the interests of Vallejo.

Military Wife   |February.19.2009 That's the problem with government - how do you starve the beast yet spend enough to have top-notch services? Government has to go through periods of feast and famine to function well. We don't get that with our current system - just the feast. We get that constant recycling because of term limits - voters rarely have the opportunity to simply vote the bastard out. Politicians can't stay in a single office long enough to see the chickens come home to roost, so they could really care less if the chickens come home at all. It's about what you can get before you hit the limit, and what job you can secure for yourself afterward. Without term limits, we'd have the chance to vote a few faces off the council from that contract signing in 2000. Without a 2/3rds public vote for taxes, people would freak out when costs spiral out of control, because taxes would be raised unilaterally. If we'd of all felt Vallejo's financial pain 10 years ago, the political landscape would be different today. With voter approved checks in place, we can sleep at the wheel until Vallejo and California goes bankrupt. We've put so many checks on our government that the only balance is bankruptcy. We' love voting for propositions that limit the amount of work we voters have to do in the future. Every check needs a balance, pure democracy is not the end all to be all. That's is what brought us here.

Anonymous   |February.19.2009 I bet PG&E was NOT a part of the conversations up there in Sacto. Maldonado said his career is probably over since he voted with the Dems on the budget...but ALL of their careers would be over if they addressed the sacred corporate property tax ripoff. We have NO leaders, really.

Taxpayer   |February.19.2009 Right on little old lady!

Little Old Lady   |February.19.2009 I remember that Prop 13 campaign. The backers included P.G & E and Southern Pacific...corporations that own thousands of acres of land and a lot of other real estate. Since corporations never die, their taxes are frozen in perpetuity. So while the little people get screwed at varying rates, ultimately they die or sell and the property is reassessed at market, which is defined by the sale price. That never happens to big corporations. The problem is that this country is run by corporations for the benefit of corporations. We are just pawns in their game and they love it when we squabble amongst ourselves rather than focus on the real culprit...a long ago court ruling that corporations are "persons" under the law.

Taxpayer   |February.19.2009 Forgot to add that while I agree Prop 13 has become a tiered system, I will not vote for increased taxes as long as our current council majority proves it has no clue how to handle the city budget. (maybe a targeted tax to the schools though that the admin can't get their paws on). Here we are in BK and poised now more than anytime in 50 years to make real change and yet they do the same thing. Only this time they are being watched by the whole world. Their arrogance is astounding... And the system IS broken, but the council current and past manage to reinvent themselves. Go down to city hall and flip through the pictures and see how often you see Intintoli: mayor, councilmember, mayor, councilmember, a virtuole merry-go-round. I wonder what he will pop up as next? On the WETA board now, does that allow him to build and build his pension big enough to escape to Green Vallejo? I think thats where Jerry Davis is, ex council member and ex City Manager. Or maybe he'll be hired as an "entry level" Economic Development Analyst like ex-mayor Terry Curtola, work for a year and get set up in comfort. No new taxes until this crazy broken and abused system is fixed! And the strong mayor deal -- Osby and pals were cooking this up all along. The wrench got thrown into their idiotic LNG idea and pathetic waterfront plan and now they're trying for a strong mayor to ram these types of destructive plans down Vallejo's throats, plans that will not have any effect on the good ol boys, they'll get their take, their retirement and run like hell out of Vallejo, and leave Vallejo in the trash.

Fed Up   |February.19.2009 Our local unions need to listen up to what HP announced today. The memo went out that in order to save jobs everybody is getting a salary decrease---upper management in the 15-20% range.

tech sarg   |February.19.2009 Should have rented untill base housing became available.

Taxpayer   |February.19.2009 MW, I agree completely with your assessment of prop 13. It was a voter revolt in 1978 against cities/counties not balancing their budgets. If they wanted to spend more? They just went to the taxpayer trough. In some towns back then, tax rates were as high as 17%!!! Seniors and others who couldn't afford to pay this were in jeopardy of losing their home. And taxpayers were angry (as they are now). But you are so right, the unintended consequence is our current tiered system. Live in one house a long time? You might pay only $500/year! H You can go to Solano County website, enter in an address and find just how low your neighbor's tax bills are...including some city officials/staff who want us to spend spend spend. And our property taxes are spiralling down - it will be VERY difficult to dig out of the wole we are in. Vallejo's properties are devalueing rapidly, and all those who bought high are getting readjusted tax bills. Homeowers can adjust their rates down if the values go down, but counties can't adjust the rates up. And yet the council majority approves developer giveaways and unaffordable contract extensions.

Military Wife   |February.19.2009 Prop 13 angers me because I'm a homeowner in my 20's and am disadvantaged by it. So it's my fault I could save up a down payment before 2005 when I was 26? I worked my butt off to be able to own a home, and the system, which I played no part in creating, screwed me. Until recent "adjustments", I paid nearly $5,000 a year in property taxes. My in-laws, who live in San Francisco in a house now worth about $800K pay (I think) $700 a year. My next door neighbor, with a near identical house, pays $400. I'm perfectly fine with her paying so little - I doubt she could afford more. By many, many others could afford to pay the market rate, and don't. Why do I get nailed because I'm young? I'm having to subsidize those lost property taxes through higher payroll taxes and sales tax. I may be paying $2000 less in property tax now but I'll be paying 1% more in sales tax. What about the renters, who had absolutely nothing to do with this and are being penalized? It certainly isn't just a tax problem or a spending problem. It galls me to think that my disabled sister is getting her $850 a month cut because of this BS caused in part by bloated salaries. Her rent on a studio in po-dunk is $600 a month, and it's illegal for my family to help her under the table. Yet god forbid we lay off government workers or reduce their benefits. I can't get over the idea that it's legal to double dip while my sister frequently can't afford to eat and is legally prevented from working or else risk loosing her health care. The situation we're in is truly horrible. It isn't a spending problem, or a salary problem. That doesn't do the mess we're in justice. It is a LEADERSHIP problem, as well as a structural problem in our government. By making it a pain in the a** to tax us and putting in term limits, we've given ourselves permission to become a lazy electorate and let the government run on autopilot. Why push for reform when they can't tax you and the bastard will be termed out anyway? Feeling smug from our smart little Propositions, we just let things slide until they crashed around our heads. It's the root of California's problem, and the root of Vallejo's problem.

PSU Watch   |February.19.2009 No, Anon, Henke probably likes spankings. What he needs is a good, hard hit to both his wallet and his power, both things he obviously cherishes above all else. Looks like both are starting to happen. Yippeee!

Anonymous   |February.19.2009 Interesting article -- Henke's losing ground!. I can't wait to find out how much the IAFF will have to pay Vallejo and Guiliani for fees related to Henke's foolish and failed lawsuit. I hope one of the four defendents counter sues Henke (if its possible). I thought Guiliani was gooing to - I hope so. Someone needs to show Henke a little disciplinary action. What he needs is a good spanking since he's always acting like a 13 year old.

Fly on the Wall   |February.19.2009 Well, judging by the number of 5-2 votes on this current city council, we have two representatives who know how to say "no" really well! For me, it's not the "D" or the "R", it's the list of endorsements that tells all. From city council to Sacramento to Washington, it comes down to special interests and how much they owe. Look at all the PSU endorsed local candidates. Noreen Evans and Pat Wiggins sold Vallejo down the river to support the unions. The Funded Four on city council have done the same but even more. And I expect Ozzy's strong mayor power grab will be union supported, but we'll see.

VHS   |February.19.2009 Right on last two comments. The D and R thing are so yesterday, the letters are meaningless. What matters to me is the motivation of the individuals in office and the sharpness of their minds. Even if I disagree with the office holders political views I realize my family and the people I love are better served by sharp individuals irrespective of the party. God bless Howard Jarvis.

Waz up wid dat?   |February.19.2009 We need more than a two party system. At the local level, we need to vote for the "best person for the job" we should ignore if the have a "D" or an "R" next to their name. Look at Vallejo, what has any politician done for us? They have made sure that other cities and counties have robbed us, but they make sure we get plenty of redevelopment funds. Thats the way this city has been run. I hate to say it, but my own "party" has run it into he ground, Vallejo has been run by the Dems for the last 25 years, agreeing to every contract with the unions, see where it has gotten us? Time to pick council, county and state presentatives who know how to say NO!"

No Hard To Understand   |February.18.2009 Increases in revenue due to many factors such as over-valued real estate sales and taxes and the like introduced lots of extra money in city and state coffers, when the bubble burst, the money was gone. When extra money comes in, they always spend it. The only people who complain about prop 13 are the new buyers. Too bad, you should not have paid so much, that is your fault. My property quadrupled in value in 4 years, you are crazy if you think the property tax should have quadrupled, just as you are crazy to pay half a million for land without a view with a 200K house on it. The state spent the increased revenues and now they don't want to cut what they shouldn't have overspent on in the first place. Everyone knew this was unsustainable, but how badly it would crash wasn't so obvious. Vallejo has relied too much on new construction fees and increasing real estate values, also, and some of you think this is a result of prop 13, take economics 101 and get back to me... By the way, my real estate taxes have climbed steadlily for the last 13 years, guess you would be clamoring for a reassessment if you bought 2 years ago, I know you are not complaining about that...

armyoftherich   |February.18.2009 angry taxpayer I totally agree with you. The democrats and republicans are both holding us hostage: one by offering an acceptable social ideology in exchange for unchecked spending, and the other offering to check spending but in exchange for reactionary social ideoloby. Why can't we have leaders who have 1) acceptable social agendas and 2) have responsible spending limits. But no, no politican who bucks their party survives, and that, my friends is the problem.

Anonymous   |February.18.2009 ..."California doesn't have a revenue problem. California has a spending problem." Nothing has changed. The previous posters comments regarding prop 13 are probably the next union-funded argument to raise revenue.

Anonymous   |February.18.2009 Actually, I think you need to apply a tourniquet to control the financial bloodletting that politicians have imposed on CA taxpayers. As the Terminator said,

Angry Taxpayer   |February.18.2009 Military Wife, you assume that I haven't been angry before now. You say, "California's budget is 35% short - we only have 2 out of every 3 dollars we need." I see that as a spending problem first, before it is a revenue problem. California pays its employees too much in salary and benefits. There are too many commissions (over 300 or so?) filled with ex-politicians making $150k/year for attending a couple of meetings. There is too much waste and fraud that is out of control (worker's comp and welfare for sure). There are too many departments and too many employees and too much graft. Etc., etc. California's government is bloated and no longer functions. Continuing to support this mess with tax increases to cover the problem is just a band-aid. Gee, sounds familiar.

Miltary Wife   |February.18.2009 Angry Taxpayer California's budget is 35% short - we only have 2 out of every 3 dollars we need. Why did it take taxes to get you angry about our situation? By overly protecting people from taxes (via Prop 13 and the 2/3rds majority), we voters didn't care enough to hold our government to the fire. With the Republicans able to stay the Democrat's hands, our system was able to rot away before it hit the point when we'd vote the bastards (the lot of them) out of office. We passed Prop 13 and Prop 98. We did this to ourselves. We put so many checks on the government (with no balances) it brought us here, rather than relying on our judgement to vote them out. As they saying goes, we have the government we deserve. Who's up for a Constitutional Convention?

Angry Taxpayer   |February.18.2009 Ok, I'm ****ed. I'm mad as hell. I don't care if it's a Republican or a Democrat thing, but the tax and fee hikes proposed to "solve" California's budget are outrageous. Go to the Sac Bee's website to calculate what the increased taxes and fees will cost you and your families next year: http://sacbee.com/1098/story/1627728

Military Wife   |February.17.2009 Military salaries are *really* complicated. Having lived it, the only good thing about them is the tax benefits. Here's an easy to use link that compares off-base housing rates to civilian salaries: http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/calc/index Typically, there are 3 types of military pay: Salary (taxed, based off rank and time in grade) Housing Allowance (tax free, based off local housing indexes) Allowance for Substance (tax free, to cover food). If you live in the barracks, you'll only earn a salary. If you live in military housing, you'll earn your salary + the food allowance. If you live off base, you'll receive all three. Housing allowances can vary (in my example for the lower enlisted) from a few hindered a month to as much as $2,500 a month in San Francisco. Even an E1 can earn the equivalent of $50K if they are living in San Francisco, while only paying taxes on ~$20K. Military pensions only cover the base salary. You can't directly compare a miltary pension to a public or private pension - the pay it was based on was never intended to cover the cost of housing. You pay no state or federal income tax while you are deployed overseas. You work 24/7, but don't receive overtime. There are few additional allowances, for "family separation" and "danger", which will increase your income by about a grand a month. Nor is it all that cush - my husband had to buy his own sheets in Iraq and toilet paper for his barracks in Germany. When it was asked why they had to provide their own toilet paper, the response was, "You're paid, aren't you?"

Anonymous   |February.17.2009 Hard to see where jobs will come from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/15/BUKO15TMRH.DTL The White House says the nearly $800 billion stimulus bill will save or create about 3 million to 4 million jobs. But if you look through the bill itself, it's hard to see where they are coming from. In the 1,073-page document, the word "job" or "jobs" shows up only 59 times, if you exclude its appearance in titles or chapter headings. That's about once every 18 pages. In most cases, the word is used in sentences that define goals - such as "the purpose of this bill is to create jobs" - or in provisions requiring recipients of stimulus aid to estimate and publish how many jobs they have created or saved. An unemployed person would be hard pressed to read the bill and figure out where to look for work, at least in the near future. "The trouble is, the things that create the most jobs are the things that kick in the most slowly," says Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist with HIS Global Insight. "The biggest bang for the buck" will come from new infrastructure spending on things like roads, bridges and alternative-energy projects, Gault says. But few of these jobs will be created before 2010 or 2011. (After the 1989 earthquake, construction on the Bay Bridge retrofit didn't start for 12 years, and it's still not done.) The part of the stimulus bill that will kick in soonest is the cut in payroll taxes. Most workers will start seeing a bit more in their paychecks in June or July. How many jobs this creates depends on how much of the tax cut is spent.

Anonymous   |February.17.2009 I tried entering several cities into the recovery website: Vallejo (no results) San Francisco (ditto) Bakersfield (ditto) even tried Detroit (ditto). I think this site searches by state, so please all you naysayers, don't use no results for Vallejo as an indicator that nothing has been asked for.

Anonymous   |February.17.2009 Recovery.gov is a website that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going. Recovery.gov Search - Vallejo, California http://www.recovery.gov/?q=search/node/Vallejo California jobs created/saved in the next 2 years http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/estimated-job-effect

On Fire   |February.17.2009 Now that's funny. Maybe it's a "uninteresting and Nothing But Rhetoric" block!

Anonymous   |February.17.2009 No, NBR, it's not censorship, it's user error. You have a "cut and paste" issue. If it was censorship, we'd block you from posting any of your stupidity here. But we allow it. It gives us a good chuckle.

NBR   |February.17.2009 hmmmmmmm..seems we have censorship at the VIB but the link is informative from Ron York@policepay

NBR   |February.17.2009 http://policepay.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-100-under-funding-of-pensions-is One of the most common statements made by politicians about government is: (substitute: JD Miller)

Did I Say That Outloud   |February.17.2009 Why 100% Under-Funding Of Pensions Is Best For Everyone By: Ron York, President POLICEPAY.NET One of the most common statements made by politicians about government is:

Curious   |February.17.2009 Anon... Thank you for more factoids that you feel support your theory. However, those nice retired,working class people who have lived forever in their moderate homes on the east side of the freeway that you refer too are probably protected by Prop 13. So they pay near nothing for property taxes but they are responsible citizens and probably do not require inordinate amounts of public services either. People who bought their houses in the last 5 to 7 years at inflated market rates carry the bulk of the tax burden and those houses, primarily, are in the newer subdivisions east of the freeway. I really feel sorry for the new Mare Island homeowners because they get hit with a huge additional assessment for utilities. But there are numerous examples of nice historic homes in the older neighborhoods selling for over half a million so they are pulling their weight too. Not the nice historic house, beautifully restored, which was sold last year to a non-profit for a group home. That one pays nothing in taxes, requires numerous calls for service and brings down the valuation of every other house on the block. The problem is in the percentages. Where a neighborhood is 90% owner occupied, property values are pretty stabile. Where the neighborhood is over 70% rentals and there are no disincentives for trashing the neighborhood, then property values are much, much lower.

Firebug   |February.17.2009 Agreed OnFire, you can find anything on the internet correct or incorrect. I have been going back and forth with NBR and his alter egos for at least six years always the same strategy. If we make a claim, they ask many questions, then find one thing on the internet that shows and inconsistency, then conclude entire assertion is incorrect. I watch this strategy play out again and again with data shared by Robert and Captain. They really hate Marc, Katy, Robert, Captain, and Silas to the point of mentioning them by name. I am jealous as six years ago they hated me as much but I seem to have been supplanted.

On Fire   |February.17.2009 Firebug, they rant and rave everyday, making up facts as they go along about VIB. It is so funny that they spend so much time over here reading what we have to say. Why are they worried if we represent such a "small" percentage of Vallejoans. To be so small, we continue to be the number one topic of conversation, each and every day. Interesting's Word of the day, rhetoric: 1. loud and confused and empty talk; "mere rhetoric" [syn: palaver] 2. (in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast. 3. Language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous: His offers of compromise were mere rhetoric.

Firebug   |February.17.2009 Good information OnFire! I have yet to find a study that shows Casinos in particlular those that must pay $200,000 per PSU FTE have brought in revenues above and beyond the cost of the additional exenditures a city must incur for maintaining and supporting the Casino. I do have to chuckle at all the bullyhoos from PSU's about the unofficial website called stimulus watch. It is quite clear that the State will be the purveyor and steward of those funds (When they can't even steward their own budget). Considering the State of the State I wouldn't bank on a lot of that money directly benefitting specific city projects. My with all the PSU's coming over here it looks like we must be more than a few disgruntled individuals. I guess they now realize no one reads the Times Horrid, and that hate mail to VIB isn't giving them their desired results.

NBR   |February.17.2009 On Fire whines: "Nothing But Rhetoric, Interesting or whatever you call yourself, you're now comparing compensation for soldiers and our PS employees?" There was attempt at comparison. Waz up offered up an a incomplete speculative thought. I was just trying to fill in the information "Was up" obvously didn't know but was happy to reference. on another topic "You can't slam Marc and VIB then think you can come over here and play." but you and this cast of wannabe intellectuals can slam the "Times Horrid" and play over on Topix? Not surprising. Nothing but rhetoric? Thank you rhetoric n. The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively. additionally, the military rhetoric, it is "rhetoric" with verifiable facts. Just t let you know that the first $5,882.70 salary of a armed forces person in the gulf region is tax free. I wasn't sure if there was a tax break in there somewhere, but there is.

MISSMARVELOUS   |February.17.2009 During the last city council meeting, I thought I heard that we submitted 34 projects to be considered for funding for the stimulus package? I thought the big deal about the new bus terminal is that it had to have instant approval so it could be submitted as part of the group of projects for the stimulus projects???

Osby Watch   |February.16.2009 Yeah, the Stimulus Watch website says the approved projects were submitted by city mayors. Whatzup Osby? What happened? Too busy pushing the city manager out and crafting your plan for strong mayor to pay attention?

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Nothing But Rhetoric, Interesting or whatever you call yourself, you're now comparing compensation for soldiers and our PS employees? I'd rather pay the soldiers the wages our employees have. What's the matter, no one playing with you and your new poll you started? Go back to the soiled litter box and play with your fellow horridites. They are more your style and share your mentality. A poll? How juvenile! You can't slam Marc and VIB then think you can come over here and play. You've been running around with a bunch of juveniles over there and it's rubbing off on you. Or maybe it's the other way around and they are getting it from you. Either way, take your toys and go home.

NBR   |February.16.2009 Waz up declares: ...Our troups in Iraq are in constant real danger, they dont work 4 on and three off or "whatever." They work "on 24-7, would you like to hear their compensation and benefits? I think not... An E-4 with 6 years in service makes about $30,000 annually. An O-4 with 10 years service makes about $75,000 annually. That doesn't include allowances for subsistence, or housing. That doesn't factor in the complete family medical, dental (no copay) or use of the base grocery store and exchange. If they are in Iraq, I believe there is a tax benefit??? tax free? Not sure if the onbase education is free or not. They can retire after 20 years @50% (theoretically age 37 and maintain healthcare for life) God bless them, they deserve that and morre.

streetsweeper   |February.16.2009 Sorry for my errors in my last post. I can spell building PSU

streetsweeper   |February.16.2009 Where did all this traffic come from? Must have been the casino topic Thanks for all the research but it might take a little time for me to go through it and do some of my own. I do think opening a casino in the middle of nowhere will increase crime much more that one in a city because there was nothing there.The Richmond casino would be the best one to look at even though it is not isolated from the general population. I know it is considered Nevada but the Casino area up at Tahoe should also be looked at as far as crime but also revenue for that city. I know Tahoe has a lot to offer other than gambling but so could Vallejo. My main point in this exercise is what can we do to want people to come our way to spend money? I would love to look across from the ferry buildind and see a world class casino along with hotels and maybe a cafe or two. Maybe a great place to eat on the water with a great veiw of Vallejo's downtown. Maybe even a martini bar we can at least have a conservation about it right?

Here it is   |February.16.2009 Binding Arbitration, The Charter Review Committee, Brown Act Violations? and The Dangerous Cult of Osby In the final comments of the meeting councilmember Schivley dropped a bomb. She accused Mayor Davis of trying to push a deal on City Manager Joe Tanner. A deal in which Tanner will take a pay out and get out. If true, such a play would be a violation of The Brown Act, which forbids secret and unilateral actions by The Mayor or any other member of the city council. Considering the makeup and alliances of the council, it might even be more egregious. The Mayor knows very well that he has a likely 5-2 split in favor of an action to oust Tanner. Shopping around a unilateral offer, and using an unofficial poll of council votes something along the lines of: �I have my five votes, so take the offer.� would comprise an even more explicit violation. Of course, this is mere speculation, sure to be denied in the light of day. Naturally, though, a Strong Mayor would not want a Strong City Manager. Osby wants to be a Strong Mayor. There's one catch. Charter changes are not retroactive. Osby would have to run again and win under the new charter guidelines to acquire the strong mayor status. It could be a long while, and he might lose. Sticky, isn't it? So, for those of you who subscribe to the cult of personality and charisma that is Osby �The Magnificent Oz� Davis...Decide if you would want to see someone other than Osby becoming mayor, perhaps someone lacking competence? (think Blagojovich) And ruling Vallejo with the destructive power such an official would wield. Suddenly those checks and balances might not seem like such a terrible thing after all. Think carefully on possible actions by the proposed Charter Review Committee. Will that group be looking to make real and important changes ? Or will this be a (largely) cherry picked pork factory pushing a bill of goods based on instructions from self interested groups and individuals. Who knows. If the Mayor has been trying to strike an illegal deal with Joe Tanner it speaks volumes about his ethics. His refusal to support placing a measure to remove Binding Arbitration on the November ballot unless done so by a committee that supports his efforts to gain additional power speaks of his motives. Aside from motives, there are potential fringe benefits to being a strong mayor. Remember, Osby has 16 years in as a County Supervisor. The pay for that job is low. A Strong Mayor who is focused on the job of running The City would likely garner a significantly higher salary. At some point Mayor Davis will retire. If he spends his last years of public service at a highly paid position in Vallejo his pension will be calculated for 16 years of service as a Supervisor�plus the additional years of service in Vallejo�using the last and highest wage. Could be a very nice payout. Not that I'm saying that is his motivation...it's just a nice �windfall� for life. So, stay awake, aware and alert. Demand sunshine and in our City government. Because Nasty Things Grow in the Dark

Weak Mayor   |February.16.2009 Marc, excellent summary of Tuesday's Council meeting. The most important section is the end, where Osby is outed for attempting to force the city manager out without a vote of the Council. If we have a strong mayor system, the unions wouldn't have to buy as many council seats anymore, would they? That's more bang for their buck for sure! As Marc said, changing to a strong mayor system would erase the checks and balances that we have in our current system, imperfect as it is. Osby, stop trying to be the magnificent dictator and start bringing people together to solve problems. That's your job that you were elected to do. Right now not only do we have a strong city manager form of government, but we have a weak mayor.

Anonymous   |February.16.2009 So, the City of Vallejo, according to Stimulus Watch website, didn't even have a "shovel ready" project submitted or approved once Barack Obama signs the bill tomorrow in Denver. What a shame. Didn't the Vallejo City Council view a presentation a couple of weeks ago from Public Works and Transit on proposed projects? What happened? http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/CA

Waz up wid dat?   |February.16.2009 Exstingwisher, Our troups in Iraq are in constant real danger, they dont work 4 on and three off or "whatever." They work "on 24-7, would you like to hear their compensation and benefits? I think not... There are many blue collar jobs that are very dangerous, in fact my brother-in-law a fire captain says fire fighters dont even fall in the top ten of most dangerous. My point is, we dont think your job is easy, but we also dont think that other folks have it easy either, and they dont earn what Vallejo fire fighters make. We know it's our City's fault for caving in and agreeing to your contracts, and they were wrong and made bad decisions that have led us into bankrupcty. If pay was equated to degree of danger, there would be a lot of positions unfilled in the work place, as you can never compensate someone according to degree of danger. We have sports figures making was too much money, and they have no degree of "danger" in their job. We all like to believe we are "worth a lot." Government jobs are not the place to "get rich." If you want to "get rich" (and I dont have a problem with rich people,) get a degree from college and go into the private sector, it's the right place to get rich...

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Or are you saying that the public safety officials fudged the numbers to get more money to pay salaries?

VIBer   |February.16.2009 Hey Look, I like to hang out at Good Day Cafe, the Cantina, Gracies, and I love getting my candy from Lileds. Ready to boycott them out of business now, too?

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Not interesting, you tell that the the California Attorney General office. There is a complete report from out of that office that says otherwise. The report was done in 2006. Look it up yourself. Also, there are cities and counties that are fighting to increase the initial revenue agreement with the Indian casinos. The cost of "doing business" increased with the influx of crime that happened after the casino came to town and the casino's didn't want to give up any more money. I got my statistics from the city's websites, and from the police, sheriff and attorney general websites. So now your saying the the police dept. and sheriff's dept. are lying? Was the attorney general making up facts just to make you look stupid? Go back to the times herald with your supposed preponderance of evidence crap, as stick to trying to impress the horridites.

Classic   |February.16.2009 Hey Look, don't bring God into this. She doesn't belong here. In the same post you just criticized VIB for the attacks, called an end to it, and then attacked somebody. Classic hypocrite.

Anonymous   |February.16.2009 Onfire thinks that "studies have shown that over time, those all lose their value due to the additional cost to the environment, ie., the city or town that is impacted by the increase in crime, loss of jobs and businesses within the urban area and the additional need for medical, mental and health problems, directly related to addicted gamblers". Which a complete raft of crap Onfire there is little reliable information on the social and economic impacts of gambling. A great deal of research does exist, but often it is prepared by groups advocating one position or another and is biased or suffers from such basic flaws as to render it virtually unusable. In short, much of what has been done is not sound. As I stated earlier: "Do gambling taxes pay for the government expenditures needed to support them? The preponderance of evidence is that they more than pay for normal expenditures on roads, police, and fire protection. To answer Silas, the answer is yes.

Hey Look   |February.16.2009 I don't want you to think that i'm attacking you. I want you to maybe think you might be a little outside the majority of people in Vallejo. Because we dont agree doesn't make us bad people. This blog sounds so angry and this is a time that we should be working together to make this world a better place. We are all Gods children, and we should worship him in the way we see best. We have to stop the hateful attacks and move on. There is this saying we have back home, but I can't remember what it is, but it's good and it applies to our situation here in Vallejo.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Hey Look, in case you haven't noticed, we eat there too. See, when you support downtown, you support all of downtown. You don't boycott some businesses because you don't like some of the people who eat there. If I stopped shopping or supporting businesses in town because I don't like some of the other people that go there and shop, I would have to do all of my shopping, eatting and business outside of Vallejo. I have no ill will forCindy or her business, even if the police and fire eat there. As long as she doesn't let them near my food. And hey look, every business that I've been in, whether or nhot they know about my position on political issues or not, have been comfortable to be in. I know of a couple that I know to support police and fire salaries and they have never treated me rudely. They all act professionally in their business regardless to their politics. Just like Danny and Deb from the Georgia Street Grill treated everyone with kindness and and welcomed everyone.

Hey Look   |February.16.2009 VIBer which business do you go to in this city that you feel welcomed. You feel that your surrounded by people that support your ideas or at least lean your direction. What business do you support that does well because you support them.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 So now we get the horridites that have thoroughly soiled their sandbox and now want to come over here to play. I love how people like extinguisher comes over to "educate" us on the job of a fireman. Water squirter, we don't live in a void. We know what the fire department does. We don't hate firemen or fire women. It's the unsustainable salaries and perks that we have a problem with. There are police and fire fighters that live in other cities and states, that earn far less than ours. They put out the same kinds of fires, deal with the same amount of crime. They are under the same dangers as our departments. Okay? That's not the issue. Thanks for your help, but I think I can understand what the fire department does without watching a U-tube video.

VIBer   |February.16.2009 Obviously the Times Horrid bloggers are trolling. Not biting at your personal nastiness, boys. We talk about issues over here. Go back to the horrid for the nasty gossip and character assinations.

YooooHooooo   |February.16.2009 "extingisher" What sort of dumbass, 8th grade educated, GED getting, overpaid simpleton are you? You can't even spell EXTINGUISHER? Blow your sob story out your left ear dude. The FF'ers in Vallejo are overpaid, get far too generous benefits for really not that very difficult work. Looking forward to a correction on the above. I know your little brain can't imagine it but there are far more serious careers out there that deserve their pay. Vallejo FD, naw! Though I have to say I love the dissension in the ranks lately. Panicky are we? Here's a dictionary entry for the word you were trying to write: a person or thing that extinguishes. Now that you've had your remedial English lesson for the day, run along back to the Rag and play with your other overpaid friends at the VPD.

Hey Look   |February.16.2009 I'm sorry, but it's a fair observation.

Hey Look   |February.16.2009 Anon just take a look at the good day cafe. They support Vallejo, the PSU's and there vary vary busy. I think its not the place that is the problem, its who's in them. I'm sorry to break it to you, but its people like your self that keep people away. You want the empress to succeed then stay away.

extingisher   |February.16.2009 this is for all of the people against the vallejo fire department, their salary and thier benefits... You don't understant all of the things firefighters do for the average people like yourselfs. I have found a video that I think you should take a look at because it really shows the truth and hardships of firefighting and it shows why they deserve the pay they get. go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV1zBYRbebo

....   |February.16.2009 Character problem. empty comment

On Fire   |February.16.2009 And anono, please post your refernce material for your "tax base". Because if you are including Glen Cove, remember that many of the residents that live up there don't/can't vote. So tax base or not, it doesn't necessarily equal out to votes. Another thing I'd like to point out to you, almost nothing from the years of MI as far as businesses are left. I suppose we can thank you and your "tax base" group for messing that up? No Brueners, Mervyyns, Sears, Home Bakerey, Yard Byrd, Orchard Supply, Vallejo Stationary, USA bowling alley, the other movie theater that was in Redwood Plaza, K-Mart, Ace Hardware, and on and on. Where was "your tax base then"? So you and all of your large tax base couldn't keep this city together? Most of these closed prior to the influx of the new people. You've done a pis(s) poor job of keeping businesses in this city, and worse, your decision that were based on your admiration of the special interest groups have bankrupt our town. You then are also the reason our school system is as bad as it is because you let it fail right under your noses. Just sat and let the likes of Pendergastnand his ilk turn a blind eye to what was happening with the money and then you even had nerve to put him back in? Please! Now, what exactly are we going to see come election time?

Anon Anon   |February.16.2009 Anon, go back to the Times Horrid where your buddies are playing nasty games in the sandbox. You're obviously a PSU apologist, so keep hoping that you all will have enough votes and campaign dollars to elect more sock puppets. We all know you don't, but spend those dollars. That's less money you can use to further screw up the city. You guys keep boycotting new businesses that start up, like Baci or the Empress. That's really helpful to our economy. As long as there are "good" and "bad" businesses, then we will never recover. You PSU apologists keep stirring up the drama and the nastiness, that helps too. As far as LNG goes, I think 15,000 signtures saying "HELL NO" was enough.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Anono, I hate to burst your little perfect "we are in control" bubble, but while collecting signature for BA, I obtained most of my signatures on the east side of 80. The people that willing and knowingly signed my petion had a different view of things that you try to present. The neighbors that I spoke with feel that this city has been under the control of greedy old timers who have made much of the bad decisions we are now suffering from. I give them more credibility since they themselves are what you call old timers with family roots and generations that have grownup here. I am a fairly new comer, having lived here over twenty years and I tend to believe the people I speak with then what you are trying to present. You sound like another poster from the times horrid who claims that he (part of the GOB and BAU group) is in control over the city.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Curious, I agree. Having lived in a neighborhood that was over run with drug dealers and absentee landlord, I totally know where your coming from. But it makes me sick to see that the times horrid is cultivating racists on their blog comments which only adds to the tension in the city. I just don't want it spilling over to this site. But the bottom line is that anyone who would exploit people, especially poor people, regardless to race is still a slimy person. Predators look for a vulnerable person who they too can exploit. They are less likely to complain about living conditions. These slumlords also look for druggies to put in their properties because it's a cash business. I'm not sure if printing their names would pose a legal concern for VIB, but I think that passing the names along to other neighborhood associations and watch groups may be better. Maybe making up a "Watch List" with the names of these slumlords. The more documentation the better a change of hauling their greedy but(t)s court. I know there is one well known attorney that lives in Benicia that owns a number of blighted properties across the street from the court house and he always threatens to sue. His properties add blight to the area and I'd love to get his name on a "Watch List". We have a dedicated assistant DA who is working on Vallejo cases and maybe we need to talk with him/her. Also, if you live in the Weed and Seed area, this may be a way to address he property.

Anonymous   |February.16.2009 CURIOUS.....There you go again. Did you not read my facts? I never said "new, upper income properties", I said 70% of the City's tax base is located on the east side of I-80.(not Hiddenbrooke) Those properties were built in the 1940's - 1950's and are well maintained by hard working, long time Vallejoans. Many are retired, but have long roots working in and for our City. You will not see many of them on this blog, but I can quarantee you that they vote. Many of them will vote for waterfront developement and were in support of studying the LNG proposal, but certain people would never let it get to the ballot. Ask Schively what happened when she offered to put in on, they almost ran her off the Council??? Remember working men and woman,are the ones that made our City so successful for so many years. But now, you must shop at the Farmers Market, live in St.Vincents area, go to Baci's and the Empress (oop's I guess you weren't strong enough to keep them around ????? I can imagine how long you guys would keep a Trader Joe's here???? Well what is there left to say....Just continue reading into the facts what you like and I am pretty sure, you will be able to reach your standard conclusion. Why are you hung up on a Casino coming to town? Who has proposed such a project? The prison was a bonafide project, but the OLD council said no way. Go figure. I am pretty sure you will twist this back to blaming the PSU's again, but then there are some of us who still support them, as you will soon find out....

On Fire   |February.16.2009 NBR, are you no longer "interesting" when you come here to post? Yes, there is an initial fiscal increase, but the studies have shown that over time, those all lose their value due to the additional cost to the environment, ie., the city or town that is impacted by the increase in crime, loss of jobs and businesses within the urban area and the additional need for medical, mental and health problems, directly related to addicted gamblers. You must be feeling lonesome over at the horrid?

silasbarnabe   |February.16.2009 NBR, that might be true if it was a study centered around the bayarea, but with the PSU market (as you folks like to point out) at $200,000 per PSU does that data hold up to those expenses?

Anonymous   |February.16.2009 In this day and age, any race "should be fully aware of racial issues" and should not "chose to profit from a system that clearly takes advantage of poorer segments of their own community". You got your crappy black landlords, white landlords, asian landlords, latino landlords, etc, etc. They come in all colors. So do bad tenants/neighbors. I think the issue here is landlords taking advantage of a lower socio-economic class. And Vallejo has many wonderful examples of that!

PSU Watch   |February.16.2009 An excellent editorial that summarizes Vallejo's and other cities' economic problems due to salaries/bennies and employee union buying of elected officials to get them. http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2009/02/16/opinion/021609c.txt In government, size really does matter In his inauguration day address, President Obama stated,

NBR   |February.16.2009 Silas, the information you commented on "Thanks for clarifying Onfire, it looks like the only folks that benefit from Casino's are the owners, and Public Safety to deal with the crime." , has some valid arguments against it. http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/ecoimprpt.pdf THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CASINO GAMBLING: ASSESSMENT OF THE LITERATURE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESEARCH AGENDA pg. 26 9 a. Do gambling taxes pay for the government expenditures needed to support them? The preponderance of evidence is that they more than pay for normal expenditures on roads, police, and fire protection pg. 27 13. What is the bottom line economic impact of casino gambling? Very pointedly, economic theory and the preponderance of evidence indicates that the aggregate direct and indirect impacts of construction, operation, and taxation of casinos are significantly positive. .... The preponderance of empirical studies indicate claims of the complete

Curious   |February.16.2009 On fire... you are right. It shouldn't matter what race a slumlord is or should it? I find it a little disturbing that someone who should be fully aware of racial issues would chose to profit from a system that clearly takes advantage of poorer segments of their own community and creates more racial tension by allowing their tenants to run roughshod over my neighborhood because they might charge us with "racism" if we object to their bad behavior. Even the police feed into that by suggesting to those of us who call in about the noise and distruction that it is just a difference in parenting or social skills. Funny, I thought driving the speed limit, stopping at stop signs, parking correctly, keeping your boom box from shaking the windows, keeping the screaming down at midnight and watching your 4 year old when he is running around in the street were part of a social contract that creates livable communities. It goes back to the issue of creating a strong tax base. You can never do that if everone doesn't pull up their pants, turn down their radios, parent their kids and act like they are proud of where they live. Fixing the broken window with the cardboard in it would be a good start.

Why don't you   |February.16.2009 question the correlation to indigents and paroles brought into Vallejo for money. Honestly, its a sad and problematic way of bringing funds to pay salaries. Ironically, causing the need for more police.

silasbarnabe   |February.16.2009 Thanks for clarifying Onfire, it looks like the only folks that benefit from Casino's are the owners, and Public Safety to deal with the crime.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 How about Thunder Valley. This is a fairly new casino. Crime in Thunder Valley Casino's hometown of Lincoln, California, rose in almost every single category between 2003 and 2005. Calls for service climbed steadily from 15,588 in 2003 to 26,202 in 2005. Stolen property dollar amounts jumped from $429,900 in 2003 to $1,413,158 in 2005. (2005 Annual Report, City of Lincoln, California) Crime in Thunder Valley Casino's hometown of Lincoln, California, rose in almost every single category between 2003 and 2005. Calls for service climbed steadily from 15, 588 in 2003 to 26,202 in 2005. Stolen property dollar amounts jumped from $429,900 in 2003 to $1,413,158 in 2005. (2005 Annual Report, City of Lincoln, California) Sorry Street Sweeper, other than the song and dance from the casino owners and their supporter's statements, which are not backed by any data, I can't find the benefits for casinos in urban or rural settings. But there are hundreds of studies that clearly indicate that the majority of casinos cause crime to increase in many categories. Let us know if you find the "positive" effects.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Street Sweeper, ask and you shall receive. This is a report from the Attorney General's office in 2006 that addresses casino's in California, with the San Pablo casino mentioned. The points of interest are the difference of casinos that are in rural and urban settings. This is just a few of the findings but you can read the rest for yourself at the link. California Attorney General Report - Negative effects of urban casinos Report Released by Attorney General Documents Negative Effects of Urban Indian Gaming Wednesday, May 31, 2006 SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 2006--A report released today by Attorney General Bill Lockyer provides a detailed account of the negative impacts that result from gaming in California, particularly in urban environments. Gambling in the Golden State: 1998 Forward examined both economic and social costs that urban Indian gaming places on California communities. "This report confirms our greatest fears about urban casinos," said Andres Soto, coalition member of Communities United to Stop Urban Casinos, a grassroots organization comprised of citizens concerned about the expansion of urban casinos in their local communities. "A casino that opens in the middle of our neighborhoods burdens the local community with multiple problems ranging from increases in crime to major traffic congestion. In addition, they cause a drain on the local economy by wiping out many small businesses." The report, compiled by the California Research Bureau, can be viewed at www.library.ca.gov/HTML/statseg2a.cfm. Some key findings: * The cost-benefit calculus for an urban casino is different from that of rural casinos. Negative economic impacts can result when gaming operations alter established retail spending or employment patterns, create more problem gambling, and increase costs for traffic, law enforcement and infrastructure. In part this is because more of the gamblers are local residents so the money they spend on gambling displaces other local expenditures. Gambling in rural areas tends to draw residents from other regions, bringing money into the local economy. * An analysis prepared for opponents of a proposed 5,000 slot machine Indian casino in the city of San Pablo concluded that the casino would result in a regional economic loss of $138 million a year, not taking into consideration social, public health, or safety costs. Money lost to the local economy, which would otherwise have been spent on local goods and services, was estimated to have a multiplier effect on the regional economy resulting in 7,219 jobs lost (compared to an estimated 2,000 employed at the casino). http://pactoregon.org/news-060531-CalifAttyGen

PSU Watch   |February.16.2009 Touchy, touchy today, Streetsweeper. I wasn't talking about the PSUs, I was talking about casinos and your support of one without doing any research. Informed opinions lend credibility to an argument, even when they are contrary, because at least you can back it up. Just spouting an opinion does as much good as those idiots on the Times Horrid blog.

silasbarnabe   |February.16.2009 Streetsweeper, If you want to find the smallest Iota of positive data on Casino's and their impact on communities you will want to even make your database even smaller and leave out the Southern California Casinos. The only positive data I could find on Indian Casinos around the U.S. is in Northern California only and it could be attributed to their recent arrival. I believe (I may have misread it) Onfire mentioned that the intitial impact of those Casino's was the most positive in the early stages, then the data shows it is all down hill in terms of crime and new revenues from there.

Streetsweeper   |February.16.2009 PSU, snarky? And I'm ignorant? Wow you are such a bitter pill. Do you ever have anything positive to say? Or is your day consumed by your hate for public safety and how lord forbid they benifit from any progress. Look I will do my own research and thank you On Fire for yours it is important to see all sides of a issue. I think California casinos should be used for the research though.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Curious, is there a point to you and the others here continually commenting about the "attorney" "property owner in Glen Cove" being black? Is it somehow a bigger problem because of the person's race or are you saying something else? A problem slum lord/absentee landlord is a problem no matter what the race, right? So let's drop the ethnic references unless they pertain to the issue. This is beginning to sound like the horrid.

PSU Watch   |February.16.2009 Streetsweeper, haven't we talked about you doing a bit of your own research before you open your mouth, get snarky and show your ignorance? Thanks OnFire, for a perfect response. Curious -- you are right on the money.

Curious   |February.16.2009 Anon.. Thanks for the nice statistics on where Vallejo property tax revenues come from. If they are factual, then it proves that new, upper middle income neighborhoods provide a good property tax stream. So how do we get the other older neighborhoods to perform equally? Wouldn't that provide copious amounts of money for the PSU's? Now we know that the most effective economic strategy is multifaceted and works fractily..that is, small actions cause major reactions. We also know that Vallejo's older (historic) neighborhoods are close to a world class transit system in the most powerful economic region on the globe so they should be desirable and increase in value like those around the Rockridge BART station...right? But those houses are over 70% poorly maintained, substandard and subsidized rentals. Then there are bunches of group homes and halfway houses run by non-profits that suck up massive federal tax dollars. Non-profits don't pay property taxes for starters. Then some absentee property owners,like that black property owner from Glen Cove, just don't pay their property taxes for years. So the general fund gets to pay for all the police calls without any contribution from the nuisance property. So without political will, neighborhoods disadvantaged by the City's own spinelessness, will never pull their weight by being transformed into being good places for middle income families to live and pay taxes. But the PSU's own the City Council's collective backbone..at least 5 of them. So here's a thought for all the PSU's who come here mining for nuggets, put some pressure on your personal City Council members to transform older neighborhoods by running off or charging the profiteers, providing incentives for urban homesteading (like no permit fees if you fix up your house and live in it for 5 years), and a major focus on Code Enforcement for nuisance properties. That could be done immediately without crossing your fingers waiting for Tesla or Touro to come through and bail us out. When middle income urban homesteaders move in, shops, restaurants and businesses will follow. There is a good textbook on this "Back from the Brink". Big fixes like a casino, LNG or MINSY are all doomed to failure. Oh but wait, the City's own Economic Development Department heads up the Vallejo Housing Authority and Redevelopment which profits from 'blight', crime and disinvestment. That money doesn't cross the line into the General Fund to pay for PSUs but stays in the pockets of the GOB's. That money was never affected by the whole bankruptcy thing. So us little people can say whatever we want on this site. But the GOBs and the PSUs are still cutting deals out of sight behind closed doors. You PSUs will have to decide to take on the GOBs if you really want to insure your fat salaries.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 I didn't add the smiley faces, that's the quirkiness of cut and paste.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 SS, from Santa Barbara. I won't post all of the monthly stats but you can read the entire article. I suggest that you simply google crime and casinos, and there are plenty of reference pages from research institutions. After you read a few, then come back and tell us if you still hold your same opinion on whether casinos are a good fit for Vallejo. Just the Facts, Ma'am - Casino Crime Stats by William Etling Casino Crime Stats When my father-in-law was a deputy sheriff here in the 1960's, he and his partner would drive the black and white down to the lumber yard and count the bricks to pass the weary, empty hours 'twixt dusk and dawn. Now the Chumash Casino keeps deputies busy. Last year, incidents included counterfeit chips, child endangerment, numerous auto burglaries, drug busts ("possession of drugs; possession of drugs for sale; under the influence of a controlled substance", drunks, liars ("providing false information to a police officer", a stolen vehicle, brandishing a deadly weapon, forgery, battery, domestic battery, petty theft, grand theft, insufficient funds, fictitious checks, a minor in possession of alcohol, trespassing, threats, embezzlement, annoying phone calls, arrests on outstanding warrants, resisting arrest, vandalism, sexual battery, even illegal dumping. Deputies cruised over to the casino 540 times, 229 cases were opened, and there were 159 arrests "of one or more subjects." County deputies supplement the casino's private security forces. For example, one sergeant and four deputies provided additional security at the cage fighting event July 27, at the casino's request. Five members of the Sheriff's gang unit also dropped by. Here's a recap of 2007 at the casino, provided by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office. January 2008 is listed at the bottom, and is busier than ever. http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=2313

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Street Sweeper here's something to read: Casinos and Crime: The Luck Runs Out By Richard Morin Thursday, May 11, 2006; Page A02 When it comes to crime, legalized casino gambling seemed to be a surprisingly good bet: Local unemployment went down, tax revenue went up and crime didn't increase when a casino opened. Some researchers even found that crime declined immediately after casinos came to town. Well, the casino cure for crime proved to be just as delusional as gamblers' luck, says University of Georgia economist David B. Mustard. Legalized casino gambling once seemed to be an antidote to crime, but a study finds that the effect is short-lived. (By Jeff T. Green -- Getty Images) About This Column Richard Morin is a senior editor at the Pew Research Center and former polling director at The Washington Post. For more about these and other studies, go to the Pew Research Center Web site. Today's Editorials Think Tank Town | On Faith | PostGlobal Washingtonpost.com | On the web Mustard and Earl L. Grinols of Baylor University analyzed crime data collected from all 3,165 U.S. counties in the United States from 1977 to 1996 and looked at local crime rates before and after casinos opened. They found that crime didn't budge when a casino began operating -- at least at first. Crime began to rise after the first year, slowly at first and then more quickly, until it had far surpassed what it would have been if the casino had never opened. By the fifth year of operation, robberies were up 136 percent; aggravated assaults, 91 percent; auto theft, 78 percent; burglary, 50 percent; larceny, 38 percent; and rape, 21 percent. Controlling for other factors, 8.6 percent of property crimes and 12.6 percent of violent crimes were attributed to casinos, he said. But what about all those casino jobs and newly minted police? Mustard said the positive effects of casinos are fleeting -- payrolls and tax collections quickly plateau, and municipalities don't keep adding cops after the first wave of casino tax revenue rolls in. What's more, Mustard said, crime rates didn't rise in neighboring counties while they soared in casino counties -- evidence that casinos create crime locally and don't merely attract it from somewhere else. And here's sobering news for those in the District and Maryland who think casinos would jump-start the local economies: "Even using conservative estimates of costs and generous estimates of benefits, we still find the costs exceed the benefits," Mustard said.

On Fire   |February.16.2009 Anon, your first problem is coming here and trying to fit everyone here into some square peg. We don't all walk in lock step and we don't succumb to the doctrine of the fear mongers. But we do share many concerns even if we don't always agree with how to deal with those concerns. But we see that some over at the times-horrid would like to try to paint us all with some broad brush, yet not knowing what we are about. Prime example is your assessment that I am blaming all of the crime on poor people. I have great concern that as time goes on, that we don't start a witch hunt on the poor. Yes they have problems, but not everyone that happens to be poor, cause problems or are criminals. The example that is always used, and now pointed out by ha ha hannigan, is 201 Maine. I'm sure that the vast majority of people that live there are good people and also wish that management would do something to make their lives more peaceful. That problem is mainly caused by bad management and the owners should be held accountable for making the rest of the residents there, suffer and live in fear. I also place some blame on the PD for that situation. The majority of people that are causing problems there, don't even live there. With that being said, I also have concern about employees that constantly vent their anger at people in the community that want change because we know that BAU has been at the root of what's wrong with Vallejo. Or employees that want to preach about the woes of poor people yet don't want to give up a dime of their salaries\benefits. Especially when those salaries/benefits are the reason this city has cut all funding to social service agencies and CBO's that deal specifically with helping the poor.

streetsweeper   |February.15.2009 PSU Watch, please explain how a casino would attract crime if it was isolated from the rest of the city and liquor stores, head shops, and pawn shops were not allowed on the Island or anywhere near the island. Plus, the casino could pay for security at the North and South gates with the ability to close down traffic in an emergency. Ok now you can tell me how terrible that would be.

PSU Watch   |February.15.2009 Anon, it all comes down to whether you can vote here. You can't. Go bother your own town with your ignorance. I'm sure they'd listen to you. Not. Get this: we the residents will NEVER allow a prison or other dirty or dangerous businesses into our city. So don't hope for a Tesla or a revitalized downtown. Boycott the Empress and homegrown businesses like the Grill. That just means less $$ for you and your PSUs. No new taxes and no dirty, dangerous crime infested businesses. Sucks for you.

Anonymous   |February.15.2009 Maybe if we didn

Anonymous   |February.15.2009 Watch The Money Masters - Fractional Reserve Banking System http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936

Streetsweeper   |February.15.2009 We will never change this city unless we change the actions or non-actions that got us here. Somtimes the only way that happens is to reach a peak of pain. Kinda like a abuse victim finally seeking help or ending a relationship. I think everyone understands that this city has done nothing to increase revenue other than build houses. Some of you may make excuses for this others do not, but fact is it is true. I read the article in the TH about refinery in Benicia giving a large amount of cash to a charity along with the all the cash that it gives to that city. Not saying I want a oil refinery in my backyard but somtimes you have to compromise.

burning alive   |February.15.2009 Talked to a cop in Maryland the chief of police smith who is quoted in the article was not available. He said their ordinance wiped out a lot of problems. I found the one in Stockton: http://www.stocktongov.com/SMC/Chapter05/Ch05_PartXXVIII.cfm Check it out it doesn

Anonymous   |February.15.2009 ON Fire; Waz Up Wid Dat' PSU Watch; ...Again I was correct in my compliment to SS. I figured you would all get your buttons pushed. I never said that Schively was the only one to vote for those "raises", I only said she is the only one on the current Council that voted that way and except for saying she made a mistake? She has never offered any solutions. (by the way how did Schviley vote on the LNG???), as far as waiting for the Touro Vision; the Telsa Plant; a green energy coming to town and the Triad plan, I hope you are as young as you act, otherwise you are living in fantasyland??? As far as where I live, I guess I am lucky I don't live in Folsom, San Rafael or Vacaville, because they have those terrible crime bringing prisons in their cities, in fact Vacaville has two prisons and if you like facts (since you talk about them but never use them) check how Vallejo's crime rate compares to those City's??? Then you can wonder why Schively and her unbought co-horts like Pearsall and Cloutier would not even consider allowing the State to put a prison on Mare Island..Sooner of later you people may change your attidutes and quit blaming the poor, the parolee's and the people on welfare (who have always called Vallejo home and we never went BK before, with or without BA, which has been on the books for over 25 years and we always had a reserve. In fact I assume you live in the hill area, near downtown, so if you would check another fact for me. Did you know that 70% of the City of Vallejo tax base is on the east side of I-80; 20% comes from the north side of Tennessee, between Broadway and I-80, which leaves about 5% from So.Vallejo; 5% from No.Vallejo and the rest from your neighborhood....Now tell me how strong you really think you are and who you really represent. And If I do leave town to go home at night? I will be worrying about the people in Vallejo who really count....Have a great Presidents Day....

Waz up wid dat.   |February.15.2009 I am all for the ordinance being passed fining slumlords for repeat calls to the police department. I understand that the fees will most likely to the general fund to pay the salaries of the VPD. In this case I dont mind, as it will be an incentive for the police department to respond to complaints by the community. It will be a win-win for the citizens who are fed up with drugs and criminals in their neighborhood. Just think out many fines the owners of 201 Maine St. would have had to pay last year, over 600 calls to the police...

streetsweeper   |February.15.2009 I for one think going after these absent landlords for allowing these criminal activities to go unchecked, is a good start. As far as any revenue from this plan, I could care less. I see what goes on around these crime havens first hand and know that these landlords could care less as long as their money rolls in every month. This plan would be a good start to try and take back our city from trouble makers and criminals. Of course we have to do much more to win back the city, but it is a start.

On Fire   |February.15.2009 Silas, the interesting part is that this was an Editorial. Can't imagine the times horrid board would ever write a story that questions the PS employees. And then we have ha ha hannigan who apparently had a volunteer committee who helped her draft this ordinance. I wonder who was on that committee???? The ordinance in itself, is a good idea. But typical to a funded council member's position, there is lots of bluster and no details that are based in reality. I will be watching intently to hear how they plan to pull this off considering the fact that we don't have enough employees in the other departments to do the work they already have. Yet they will be the first ones tagged for layoffs, but this police revenue enhancement will use these same employees to collect and administer the program. What do you want to bet that all fines will go directly into the PD fund and not the general fund?

silasbarnabe   |February.15.2009 Thanks for the article Onfire, when will the voters start understanding that this isn't about safety, it is about self serving PSU's and their own wallets.

On Fire   |February.15.2009 Found an article from Ohio. If you changed the names and people, it could be Vallejo. Article published February 15, 2009 Bargaining with fear POLICE and fire protection are very important and must be maintained at levels adequate to keep residents safe. But suggesting that people will flee Toledo, never to return, if police staffing needs are not immediately addressed goes well beyond the posturing one expects from a union official trying to save jobs. It crosses into the realm of fear-mongering. That is what Dan Wagner, president of the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association, did when he called this year's expected decline in police ranks from 634 to about 600 an "unprecedented public safety crisis" and warned of dire consequences. To support his contention, Mr. Wagner pointed to statistics through August, 2008, indicating that murders, robberies, and burglaries were all considerably higher last year than in 2007. He was correct, but he failed to note that crime overall was down in Toledo and has been declining for at least 2 1/2 years, even though the number of police has declined each year as well. Aggravated assaults were off 7.8 percent in 2008, rapes almost 5 percent, and auto thefts 19 percent. The total picture was a mixed bag, with crimes against property generally up and crimes against people generally down, a situation we imagine is pretty typical whenever the economy shrinks. Even the steep rise in murders - 33 percent - was a little misleading because of the small sample size. There were 20 murders in Toledo in 2008, compared to 13 in 2007. We can only guess as to the purpose of Mr. Wagner's sky-is-falling routine. We assume, of course, the sincerity of the union's desire to "protect and serve the citizens of Toledo." That's a laudable goal we all share. But there are other possibilities as well. You can read the entire article at: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090215/OPINION02/902150302

Anonymous   |February.15.2009 Miss M - I love your idea of posting absentee landlords here on VIB! Not sure if its legal--I know that there is state legislation that does not allow the county property tax assessor to post names. I reseached some absentee landlord issues a while back and many states do allow it -- St. Louis I think is pretty agressive. Someone I know told me a "prominent City Official" owns a vacant lot across the street from him that was becoming an eye sore (he wouldn't say who). I bet there are a ton of "prominent Vallejo Officials" that own lots of neglected property. Time to stop it! But instead of putting more $ into code enforcement, the council majority gives millions to already handsomely paid cops and millionare developers... Time for the "prominent city officals" and out of towners to be outed on this site then? With photos? !

Missmarvelous   |February.15.2009 Because "misery love company" I thought I would let the VIB'er know, that Vallejo is not the only City hurting in this economy. While it's true, we have a market full of foreclosures, our up river cousins in Napa are battling the real estate market too. There are over 500 properties on the market in Napa right now, 50-60% are foreclosed properties or short sales. They dont like to talk about it though, it's "hush hush" the tourist might find out... Worst yet, Out of town investors might start buying up the foreclosed properties and start filling them with section 8. Ha!

Little Old Lady   |February.15.2009 The Napa River is tidally affected up to the Trancas Street Bridge in Napa. That means that the Napa River, a stream of water that begins in the mountains north of Calistoga, ends at its confluence with the tidally affected waters of the Sacramento River. American Canyon, in Napa County, is not an arbitrary point where it changes from the Napa River unless you have a mindset that assumes that Napa County is somehow different and only those living north of Vallejo own the "Napa" brand. We keep having the same "brand" argument with Benicia which somehow figures that a building build originally for the Benicia City Hall and occupied for a week by the State legislature is the "first capitol" when the actual first capitol was built in Vallejo exclusively for that purpose a couple of years before.

Anonymous   |February.15.2009 Below is a Table that shows whether each City in Solano County has more or less registered sex offenders than expected based on their population. For example Dixon only has 71% as many registered sex offenders as would be expected while Vallejo has 158% (i.e. Vallejo has 58% more than one would have expected while Dixon has 29% less than expected). What is unforunate is that the State is going to stop bankrolling long-term rental housing for these sex offenders. City Index Vallejo 158% Fairfield 90% Suisun 84% Dixon 71% Rio vista 68% Vacaville 68% Benicia 37%

Waz up wid dat?   |February.15.2009 Anonomous, you just think any kind of revenue is "ok" for Vallejo as long as it pays the high wages of PSU salaries. I bet your city/town would not allow a prison or LNG plant to be newly built. In fact, you most likely live in a nearby city-county that doesnt build enough affordable housing and Vallejo ends up with your "po folks." One of the worst situations Vallejo has ever gotten itself into is accepting millions of dollars of Federal Funding for housing the poor, it draws poor people from all over the Bay Area (including the city you live in) to move to Vallejo and be housed. We took the money as it seemed the right thing to do in light of Mare Island closing. Taking care of the poor, group homes and parolees is expensive. We dont get any extra Federal Dollars to pay for the extra police services needed to take care of the crime associated with housing poor people... So Anonomous, you can best help the City of Vallejo, by going back to your community and demanding that your city take care of their own poor, parolees and provide homes for rehab houses... Still think we want a prison or LNG plant on Mare Island?

PSU Watch   |February.15.2009 Anon, you obviously don't live in Vallejo, you just suck off of us for a paycheck and then go home to a healthy community with no powerplamts or casinos or prisons. People who live here won't accept "revenue at any cost" to pay your outrageous salaries and bennies. We didn't need a study to tell us we didn't want to live less than a mile from a LNG plant that could kill our families. We don't need a study to know that casinos attract more crime and drugs and alcoholics and cost cities more than they bring in. We don't need a study to know we don't want to house other cities' criminals. That must frustrate you, because that means we can't give you your fat-cat bennie and wages, but tough. Go to another city that will bend over for police and fire. Those days of exploitation are OVER here. We'll wait for Touro's cancer center, a Tesla Motors, green energy production, Fairgrounds development, downtown and waterfront development that is smart and hip and will revitalize our core. You see, Anon, we vote here. You vote in Napa or Vacaville or Eldorado Hills. Go tell them to bring in what you're trying to push on us. I'd love to hear the answer. And while you are at it, go back to the Times Horrid where the blood sucking ticks belong.

On Fire   |February.15.2009 Anonymous, people here have the right to give their opinion, their way. We aren't the "other" news site. We don't have to tell our story your way. Leave SS alone and go back to the t-h. (Troubled Haters) You'll feel more comfortable there. They are stuck to their keyboards yelling and screeming at everyone. They can't enjoy any view and certainly have scared any singing birds away from their homes. And please, don't come here trying to act like your the only one that understands the need for new jobs and revenue. Until you get rid of the blood sucking ticks, nothing will work here long term. And we told you before, Schivley didn't act alone. She was only one voice and she has admitted to making mistakes. She sat with the union funded majority, who made these decision and that have had control over the decisions for years. They, the funded majority, are to blame for the fiscal fiasco we are now facing. Just so you know.

On Fire   |February.14.2009 Street Sweeper, watch out. Your beginning to sound like a deep thinker. Next thing you know, you'll be out doing your job and people will start calling you a VIB'er. Was out this evening with some of the blue collar crawl crew. It was an enjoyable evening. Had some good food and though there was no Grey Goose, they did have Blue Sapphire Bombay gin.

Anonymous   |February.14.2009 Streetsweeper......You are da man !!!! It is about time someone on this venue, starts to speak facts. Its nice to get up in the morning and see the Napa River (its really the Mare Island Straits) the Napa River discontinues at American Canyon (next to the old Vallejo dump); Its nice to see the hummingbirds and look at the nice trees blowing in the wind, while complaining about empoyee salaries, but only you have mentioned the real problem. NO JOBS..Why did the old Council (including Schively) allow 1400 homes to be built? Why didn't the old Council (including Schively) allow a trade school on the shipyard? Why did the old Council (including Schively) stop a prison and its 1000 jobs to come on the shipyard? WHY you ask? because then we couldn't complain about salaries, arbritation, bankruptcy, etc.If the Langes, Schivelys, Gomes had at least let us complete the study for the LNG, maybe we would have found out why we didn't need those revenues? But thanks to the old Council (including Schively) we have the Empress, Triad, Wednesday Night Celebration, Farmers Market and Fighting Back Partnership??? Now we are really benefiting from those revenue producers. With those assets, who needs City Employees......but then we wouldn't have VB'ers.....Streetsweeper be careful, you are starting to make too much sense, next thing you know, they will be telling you that you are a troll and for you to go back to the TimesHorrid....Thats ususally what they say, when you make sense...Again, You are DA Man....

streetsweeper   |February.14.2009 I love the birds and the hills and our waterfront along with the amazing sunsets but none of this pays the bills. When Mare Island shut down this city should have hit rock bottom. Instead, the housing market took off and we put all our eggs in one basket when we should have continued to replace the industry we lost. Yes, we should have controlled employee costs but this financial crisis is too big. We are on the way to rock bottom now and when we get there who knows what will be left of the city or how many employees will be left. Maybe then and only then will we learn how important it is to bring in industry, business, and revenue for the city. Get ready for hard times like none of us have ever seen.

Missmarvelous   |February.14.2009 Yesterday, on the Times Horrid, someone blogged that one of the most crime ridden houses in St. Vincents Hill is owned by a Napa Police Officer. Does any one know the address of this particular house? We can access the landlords name via tax records and proudly publish it here on VIB. Little Old Lady, if you feel comfortable I would be happy to publish any landlords names here on VIB on blighted property that I can search from tax records. I am sure that property owners would be proud to have their names associated with any property that they own... Viva Vallejo!

Ron York isn't always correct   |February.14.2009 Little Old Lady Remember Mr. York represents the Police not the Citizens. What he failed to mention is that if Vallejo Police had delayed their raises or gotten smaller raises that an additional 10 to 13 more police could have been hired. Sandy Salerno said at City Council that high wages were more important to Police than Staffing levels.Please don't ever have any sympathy for Police whining about workloads. Even with the uncertainity over Vallejo's finanical future, Vallejo's total compensation (even under the pendancy plan) is one of the highest in the State. Does Mr. York think that most Police don't realise how well Vallejo pays. There are well qualified Police who would be willing to come to Vallejo for the riches they would be rewarded with. Remember, Osby and the Funded Four had their marching orders and like good little soldiers are doing the PSU's bidding. The extremely high wages are not due to an inability to hire--its just an excuse to justify over the top wages and benefits.

Little Old Lady   |February.14.2009 Note that Ron York uses as justification that Vallejo public safety unions have to be paid at the absolute top of the state market is because Vallejo is so horrible. Has he ever been here?? I live in the same City as Missmarvelous and rejoice every morning as the mist rises over the masts of the yachts in the harbor on the Napa River Straits and the birds sing in my blooming fruit trees. But my heart sinks when the rap music starts up from the new tenants in the apartment house next door and the numerous "friends" of the people living in an apartment up the street begin to show up parking their cars every which way in the street as they run in. That apartment building, I understand, is owned by some high powered black lawyer from Glen Cove. No sense calling the cops or someone in City Hall because they won't respond. They benefit financially from the lowlifes; not from us good law abiding citizens who work hard and paint out graffiti. We actually reduce their effectiveness in beating the drums of 'crime and fear' that fills their pockets. Who will win? If we do, then Vallejo will recover its rightful place as the "true center of commerce" like General Vallejo once envisioned. If they do, Vallejo will continue to cycle downward and no one wins.

Waz up wid dat?   |February.14.2009 I think what Miz Mahvalous is saying, is WE ARE FED UP! In the words of the "Joker" "this town needs an enema!"

Missmarvelous   |February.14.2009 This morning when I woke up and the sun was shinning, from where I live you can see the napa river and a beautiful forest of city trees, Beautiful!!! Funny I thought, if you didnt know the social problems and the money problems we have, we could just be another waterfront affluent city on the bay. Its almost like a "dirty trick" has been played on Vallejo, we have been plyed with every social program known, it's almost like someone (group) said, hey want to see how that social program works? Go throw a little money Vallejo's way and the city will allow you to experiment... There has to be a reason we end up with bus loads of parolees from other cities-counties. Take care of supplying affordable housing for surrounding cities, have too many "group homes" for substance abusers. We are only attracting the poor and social rejects of society to move to our city. If we dont attract a more desirable class of people how will our schools improve? How will we get more desirable retail? A bigger tax base? Reduce crime? From everything I have heard and read, our local politicans as well as state politicins (who do not represent us well as they receive heavy lobby from their own cities-counties) need to crack down on what has been going on for years in Vallejo. Little Old Lady is right, keeping Vallejo poor, blighted and crime filled, allows the city to receive more redevelopement funds, more section 8 funds, and out of town landlords can fill houses with "group homes" and receive Federal dollars. We have to keep up the "good fight" to turn Vallejo around. Stop re-electing politicans because they have a "d" next to their name, pick the person who will best help our city! Viva Vallejo!!!!

Did I Say That Outloud   |February.13.2009 "Considering the current environment in Vallejo, the pay for the Vallejo Police and Fire Departments would have to be number one in Northern California and number one by a good margin." Saint Ron York may have put his reputation on the line with his worshipers at this site............can his halo remain untarnished? Stay tuned......

streetsweeper   |February.13.2009 On Fire, thanks the fish and wildlife will be happy that all that trash does not end up in the bay and ocean. I might have to have a apple tini tonight I will never have a dirty martini ever again

On Fire   |February.13.2009 Street Sweeper, thanks for clearing my street before the rains came. Have a cold martini this weekend and enjoy!

Pyriphlegethon   |February.13.2009 "My Cafe property based on 8 month old appraisals. I heard this is a package deal for GOB Higgins? True?" Oh yes most likely! This deal is lovely for Higgins, he DOES own that building. I wonder how much his family made when all the buildings were torn down in the first round or redevelopment? Thats the trouble with this town, there is a certain good of GOBs (and GNB: Wilson, and there are girls in there) who think Vallejo's sole purpose is to line their pockets or further their self interests. Good example, the Five Frauds up there on the dais: Bartee, Davis, Hannigan, Sunga, Wilson. When have they shown an ounce of care for this town? They can't even get an easy $700,000 from a developer who has already made a killing from Vallejo.

Fly on the Wall   |February.13.2009 Yohoho, yesiree, the Funded Four + the Great and Powerful Oz (Shively and Gomes opposed) agreed to buy the My Cafe site for $830,000 or so to GOB Jack Higgins. That price was based on an appraisal done last June, before the collapse of the real estate market and official acknowledgement of our recession. So the Fundeds + GPO gave $700k to Mandarich and at least $200k to Higgins just in the last month. That's almost a million $ in giveaways. Where do I sign up?

streetsweeper   |February.13.2009 Anonymous, not sure if I had your street Thur, but if I did thanks. Also there are a 3 sweeper positions and a few others that can do the job so just because I do not respond to a martini does not mean I do not exsist. Drinking while sweeping is dangerous mix

Wednesday Night   |February.12.2009 YOHOHO, I think because there are not enough officers working they have to hire them on overtime. It's too bad, but who is going to patrol my east side home and protect my neighbor if the cops are down there when we are getting our party on?

YoHoHo   |February.12.2009 I'd like to learn more about the deal where the city buys the My Cafe property based on 8 month old appraisals. I heard this is a package deal for GOB Higgins? True?

YoHoHo   |February.12.2009 Wed Night, This is what irks me.. We have a police force who work for the city of vallejo. They do not decide what they "work" and what they don't. Do they decide that there are certain neighborhoods where they will provide no service? Seems to me the city needs to establish the priority of this event and move the barriers of politics in public safety out of the way. Now if Main St doesn't want it, then either the city needs to step in a do it or someone else. Main St doesn't own Main St if you know what I mean.

Wednesday Night   |February.12.2009 I agree, it is a great event. But Fred said the police don't want to play and then said Main Street didn't want to pay.I don't know if we should contact the police department or Main Street. Police have been there in the past. Who did they check with?

YoHoHo   |February.12.2009 Wed Night, we all know it's a bit of both. The Main Street people appear to be incredibly disfunctional and can't invent their way out of a paper bag. Fred gives ideas to save dollars and they either don't care or wish they were smart enough to think of it. Wed night celebration is very very important to our downtown. We must not let it die!!

Wednesday Night   |February.12.2009 Well which is it Fred, "the police don't want to play" or Main Street does not want to pay?

Anonymous   |February.12.2009 Trueemployee, I got that impression when the streetsweeper cleaning my street this morning didn't wave back and looked at me strange when I offered him a martini.

truemployee   |February.12.2009 don't believe anything streetsweeper has to say. He really doesn't sweep for the city.

Firebug   |February.12.2009 So now Ozzy has violated the Brown Act, I can hardly wait until he endorses a tax or the Charter amendment change for a "strong mayor". I hope that soon we will be hearing more about this and "Ozzygate".

Anonymous 2   |February.12.2009 I wonder if you can put 22 inch rims on a tesla motor car?

Anonymous   |February.12.2009 Streetsweeper, was that you sweeping my street this morning? Very good job, man. My street is spotless.

Captain   |February.12.2009 Tesla Motors To Receive $350M In Gov't Funding. http://cbs5.com/local/tesla.motors.funding.2.932978

streetsweeper   |February.12.2009 Mark, thanks for the article breaking down the legal battle. I have a better understanding now of the Bildisco part of the case. Don't know why the Times Hearld could not do it. Sounds like the judge may reject contracts but if this happens both sides said the unions and city will end up in binding arbitration. Won't the arbitrator look at the deal cut with CAMP and PD along with deals offered by both sides to rule?

Captain   |February.12.2009 More from Ron York Vallejo, CA - What Now? BY RON YORK POLICEPAY.NET http://policepay.blogspot.com/2009/02/vallejo-ca-what-now

On Fire   |February.12.2009 Ron York's analysis of the Bankrupcy hearing is posted. It was worth waiting up for. Marc's article was referenced and he gave kudos to Marc for his "fair and balanced" reporting of the event. It's a must read. http://policepay.blogspot.com/

On Fire   |February.11.2009 Who the heck is Paul?

Anonymous   |February.11.2009 Happy Steak, that's very cryptic. Are you threatening somebody?

HAPPY STEAK   |February.11.2009 Paul (M.G.)....My advice is for you not to try and get in the water with the big boys, you are out of your league. Just keep doing what you are doing and enjoy yourself. The Big Leagues are not your cup of tea. In fact your play was really bush league. I hope you enjoyed our conversation.

Anon Anon   |February.11.2009 Yeah right Anon, you remember her speech from 3 years ago and who she thanked. LOL! p.s. You're wrong.

Captain   |February.11.2009 BY RON YORK POLICEPAY.NET We have just downloaded the transcript of yesterday's closing arguments in the hearing for the objections of IAFF and IBEW as to the rejection of their union contracts. I have only skimmed it. I am leaving work as soon as this is posted. I have promised the wife and the grandchildren that I would go to the University of Oklahoma women's basketball game. After the game, I will analyze the transcript and post my findings on the blog. It may be late for those of you on the East Coast, but I will get it up there. In the meantime you can read it for yourself. Send your thoughts and questions to me at rjy@policepay.net Link To The Transcript Just wanted to post this in case anyone wanted to send Ron questions or comments.

silasbarnabe   |February.11.2009 Onfire, This strategy is all too familiar, the PSU's make a claim then expect you to prove them wrong, if we make a claim we have to prove it is correct. No work or expectation whatsover on their part except to make a claim or denounce a claim. What counts in the end is that we take all our information and select candidates based on what is best for citizens as opposed to employees and get them elected by convincing the electorate. I can hardly wait for the support Ozzy and taxes, or reelect Bartee and Sunga commercials even though they want to tax you for the bad decisions they made.

Lady Lang   |February.11.2009 Thanks, I like that title. My cell # is 707-704-8628. Instead of oozing your discontent on this fine board of thoughtful posts, call me directly so that we can talk about what you think I am or am not doing to better the city of Vallejo. Be sure to take the blocked caller ID off if you want to talk. Sorry for the distraction VIB'ers. Keep up the great work!

On Fire   |February.11.2009 Anono 4, bad company do you say? Do you even know what is going on at SCC or are you one of those that takes the times horrid to heart at what they report on? Or Not! Let's hear the facts that you are basing your conclusions on about Ms. Keith?

On Fire   |February.11.2009 Anono whoever, what's your point? You obviously have some beef with Lang. This isn't Facebook. In case you haven't notice, the primary discussion has been about city issues. We get it that you don't like Lang, and speaking for myself, I don't really care. People have the right to go to city council and speak on whatever issue they please. You are welcome to go there and speak about your issues with Lang. (Yeah right, if you could act like an adult, you wouldn't be here crying about her.) Otherwise, let's move on.

Anonymous 4   |February.11.2009 Is that the same Pam Keith we read about in the horrid that ran SCC off the rails? if so that is bad company.

Anonymous 3   |February.11.2009 Meant to address Anonymous (the stalker) not Anon2...

Anonymous 3   |February.11.2009 Dialogue Monitor, care to weigh in? Seems the TH stalkers have arrived at VIB. And to Anon2, what have YOU done for VJO? The Dog Park and Empress are great additions (although unfortunately, bad times for all entertainment venues, except for NetFlix. If you haven't noticed, we in a global economic meltdown).

Anonymous   |February.11.2009 Anon 2: You must really be in the loop? Stephanie's Co Chairs were Barbara Kondylis and the Lange Lady, I remember her speech when she got sworn in. As far as Pam Keith, get your story straigth, she was Cloutier's Campaign Chair, remember him???....as far as what the Lange Lady has done to benefit the community, can you please refresh my memory, so I can stand corrected. Don't count the money she spent on the Lange Dog Park and the Empress Theater, because then you will be playing right back into the PSU's hands. Also, I have never been on the Timeshorrid blog....Have you? If so why? are you trying to get some true facts????

Captain   |February.11.2009 Here is the link to the transcripts from yesterdays closing arguments: http://policepay.net/Vallejo/2-10-09transcript.pdf

On Fire   |February.11.2009 It's called the (not so) merry-go-round. We deal with employee contracts, budget, getting new CM's, employee contracts, budgets, getting new CM's. Our current CM has been hear two years and we hired him based on his ability to run the city and turn it around. What has he been working on? Employee contracts and budgets. Of course he has had plenty of other things that he has been trying to do and should be doing, but Council has set the priorities and that's what he works on. So staff does what it can with the projects it has. With the turn around of CM's in the last few years, there has been no stablization of City Hall with a firm directive to work on revenues. Now ozzy has set new priorities, give the PD whatever they want, and cut from everyone else. So once again, with the city facing a 12 million dollar deficit, the CM will order more cuts, which means even less people working in Economic Dev. and Planning. Who is there to work on getting a deal with Tesla? The mayor has his own kingdom building agenda, the council (funded) are finding ways to appease the unions, and the other two are just trying to make sense of it all and protect the citizens from being hit with more taxes. That's what we have SS. Unless the taxpayers start yelling louder, the merry-go-round continues. Can it get more depressing?

streetsweeper   |February.11.2009 On Fire, your right staff has been busy but not not for the last 12 years or however long MI shut down. The fact is they have brought nothing but housing because it was easy and took no amagination. I do my job daily and so should they or they should be the first to hit the street. When this labor issue is done they will continue with nothing. Where is the ugency?

Fly on the Wall   |February.11.2009 Not only is it bad that the Oz is negotiating to get rid of Tanner without public scrutiny, but without approval and knowledge of the City Council? That's just crazy. He's one of seven people that has to agree to negotiate or to let him go. I feel like we're in the Twilight Zone. Is he a strong mayor already? Or just acting like it?

On Fire   |February.11.2009 On another note, I would like to know how it is that oz can do the things he has been doing around city hall, and getting away with it, time after time? Micro-managing seems to fit him just fine, like going out and recruiting consultants. I was thinking that ozzy was making a move to try and get rid of Tanner so that he could move Whitom in as CM. That would have been a big enough nightmare, but it also begs the question of where is the process? Remember that Whitom and Dolan were given their positions, and never went through any process. I understand that the city has had to move people around because of the fiscal situation, but if they are going to be letting go of yet another CM, in midstream of a bankruptcy no less, then negotiating a severance package, and then hiring someone else, they better do it in full view of the public. If we are going to be cutting even more city services, then they will need to explain where the money is going to come from to pay for a new CM and a severance package for the current CM. I'm thinking ozzy is looking at hiring a certain consultant that he hand picked to come work for the city. Maybe that consultant doesn't mind having ozzy sticking his fingers into the day to day operations of the city! Keep your eyes and ears open!

On Fire   |February.11.2009 Street Sweeper, now are you getting the picture? Remember the discussion about staff being tied up with labor contracts and cutting budgets? The court has not ruled and until then, the city will be tied up with figuring out a way to pay the creditors and how many more lay offs it will take to bring down the 12 million dollar deficit for this coming year. Then they will start yet another round of layoffs, because they continued BAU and not dealt with the benefits packages for the employees, which is yet another problem that this funded council refuses to deal with. Till then, staff will be working on what they can, which is mostly the projects that have already been started. The mayor has a committee that meets with Lennar, but have you heard anything recently? Maybe because he is too busy trying to take over the city as the supreme dictator?

Captain   |February.11.2009 Pension nightmares nationwide: We're in a cold war pitting taxpayers, public employee unions - from signonsandiego.com Article link: http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/afb/archives/031237

Mad Hatter   |February.11.2009 Anonymous, go back to the litter box at the Times Horrid. Dianna Lang speaks well and passionately, and I for one am glad she gives her time to come to meetings and speak her mind. She's done more for this community than any of the haters at the Times Horrid every will. You all just like to sit back and tear people down beyind the safety of your computer monitor. It's easy to criticize, but much harder to be a part of the solution.

Watch   |February.11.2009 Ohhhh, sounds like the firefighter's panties are in quite a bunch. Maybe because your contract is likely going to be a tiny pile of ashes soon? Their golden ticket, binding arbitration, didn't sound so popular with the public? I just love this time of year. Everybody who gets up to speak at council meetings is accused of running. We can only hope that some of the smart people who got up to speak last night will be running. Not likely, but we can hope. The caveat would be the smart people who spoke, not like that Punky lady.

Anonymous   |February.11.2009 Gomes's campaign chair was Pam Keith. Get your facts straight, hater.

To the Lang stalker   |February.11.2009 No doubt you like to sit in your Lay Z Boy and yell at the tv box. I would venture to guess that you do nothing (unless paid) for Vallejo. I know Lang and I assure you, you have no idea what you are talking about. She has a mind of her own, a conscience and has worked very hard on behalf of this city. She's a straight shooter who tells it like it is. Don't like it, don't listen. But don't degrade her many positive contributions. Do a little homework. Your ignorance is showing.

streetsweeper   |February.11.2009 Did anyone ask about Tesla last night? Mark? So now we will focus on BA instead of bringing in revenue? My God are we going to allow all the other cities to kick our butts getting the Fed money?You just know that's what will happen and it will be a crime because we need it the most. It is are only chance to get out of this hole because balancing the budget on labor will not be anough.

PSU Watch   |February.11.2009 Spending themselves into the ground without making cuts. Vallejo made plenty of cuts, just not the cuts that would have prevented insolvency. Vallejo made cuts to services, cuts to infrastructure maintenance/improvement and cuts to non public safety employees. But not only did Vallejo NOT make cuts to the golden boys/girls of the PSUs (3/4 of Vallejo's gf budget), they gave them raises and higher salaries and better benefits, and more drunken abalone dive trips. Did you also catch from the article 64 percent of Santa Rosa's general fund goes to police/fire. Vallejo is ten percent more than Santa Rosa. Wow.

Anonymous   |February.11.2009 That Lange lady is starting to wear out her welcome, to get up there and rididcule tha FF was typical of her demeanor. She had decided she is an expert in realty, because she sells homes? but doesn't refer to the great job she did to preserve the Empress and cost the City $4M. Why doesn't she admit she is in Gomes pocket (she was her campaign Chair)and will never, ever disagree with anything Gomes says. When she talks about a puppet, she should look in the mirror. Can anyone tell me what she has accomplished in her years living in the Vista, that has benefited the City, except constantly bad mouthing the FF. She should get a life in the area she really would like to live in, but can't afford. Rest assured she is getting ready to run for Council, then she can show more arrogance then Schivley..

Keep the goood times rolling   |February.11.2009 My favorite quote from the Article just posted about Santa Rosa. It says it all. I saw Vallejo spend themselves into the ground without making cuts,

On Fire   |February.11.2009 If the economy continues to tank like all of the economist and financial experts say, and we don't see any growth as far as the revenues, then those on council who continued the BAU decisions will have a lot of explaining to do. If you vote on a decision as drastic as bankruptcy, you can't come back to doing things the same way and expect a different result. Voting as a populist is fine if you get something done and change occurs. If nothing changes and we are still facing yet anothe possible bankruptcy, and you are still carrying on BAU, you then revert to being a GOB. Remember, Intintoli tried this same move and look where we are.

PSU Watch   |February.11.2009 Ozzy a populist? HAHAHA. He's an egotist at best. If he was a populist, he'd be fighting for the comman man/woman in Vallejo to prevent them from having to pay more taxes. Instead, he keeps making decisions for our "heroes" who "put their lives on the line every day" and says that the "people" will just have to pay more taxes to support their fat $150k+/year salaries. The "people" who are losing their jobs and making $60k/household if they're lucky. That's special interest, and Ozzy and the Funded Four reek of it. I didnt' hear anybody arguing last night that there weren't good provisions in both the police and CAMP contracts: the argument was whether there were enough cuts. The city keeps saying that now without minimum staffing (which the police never had until last May when the majority gave it away), the city can lay cops off. That's a nice management right the city should have never given away. But it doesn't really help solve the city's financial problems. Signing a contract with promised raises and no employee contribution to health care pretty much guarantees the city will soon have to lay off cops. Isn't this contrary to what everyone says they want? Why not sign a contract that makes enough cuts to help us ensure that the city can keep a certain level of police staffing, if not increase it? THAT would be a populist position.

Firebug   |February.11.2009 I don't recall Obama ever saying he was going to tax middle america (that is a losing strategy), I know one very strong deciding factor from voters in my circle next year will be which incumbant supports the UUT extension, and new taxes. Sunga and Bartee cannot afford to jump on that bandwagon, but I have witnessed dumber behavior from Hermie. If those taxes fail I am not certain how effective PSU bought candidates will be next year.

VHS   |February.11.2009 The thing that caught my attention was the discussion on minimum staffing. Minimum staffing was held up early on in this battle as the single most egregious provision of these PSU contracts. Listening to the arguments made against the current VPD settlement agreement had me confused because the minimum staffing provision has been dropped (in the current agreement). I got the impression we were covering old ground and some people were caught changing the central points in their argument. There were good dissenting viewpoints made last night but I think the war against labor has been lost. You can see Mayor Davis adopting a populist position ala Obama and in times of economic distress this is a winning political strategy. I believe the politicians that present themselves as dissenters in the next election cycle will be swept from office.

On Fire   |February.10.2009 Can't say I was surprised. But the fact that HaHa Hannigan made the cooment about the conflicting information about State law and Binding Arbitration is memoriable. She lives nextdoor to Riley, he gives here a script for council meetings, but she doesn't know if BA is a State law? Now that's special. Wilson said a whole bunch of something, but I'm going to need a translation. Was he speaking english? If anyone may have thought that Sunga and Bartee wouldn't skirt around the issue, you now know they will be running for re-election. Poor sunga, he will never have enough information on anything. Maybe the BA he told everyone he had, was actually from an accredited school, he would be able to figure things out once in awhile. Don't laugh at me? It's not at all amusing that you continue to use that excuse when you don't want to go on record for a vote. Well, another edition of B A U.

On Fire   |February.10.2009 Well anonymous, then maybe you can set the story straight. Who paid for arbitor? And when the city couldn't reduce the minimum staffing, and had to pay a labor attorney to represent the city, who paid for that? Where did that money come from? I'm sure that "the public" is waiting to hear the "truth".

Anonymous   |February.10.2009 Well Schively did it again?? Would she please tell her "public" the true facts on when BA cost the City money and then substantiate it? It is not funny any longer, when she makes statements that she can not prove and then leaves the public thinking she is telling the truth. I know she reads these, so maybe she can respond through Mr. Schussel and then we would all know where she comes up with this stuff. If not, she is doing a complete diservice to the people that elected her, naturally not me, because I have caught her in lies before and that is why she lost my support before. Now she is doing it again. I am against BA, but she is making me rethink my position and support that will be needed. If anyone thinks the PSU will not throw everything at defeating the BA removal, they are really living in "fantasy land". Come on Joanne, listen to yourself, the B of A must really be embarassed having you as a former secretary....

Smell this   |February.10.2009 Wanted: Gay, minority, handicapped, laywer, wanted to run for Vallejo City Council. A concerned group of Vallejo citizens is willing to bank roll your campaign, as well as give you cash pay off or dope for your efforts. Any butt-wipe, self serving union cling-on can apply.

Anne M Ployed   |February.10.2009 Captain, you mentioned Gilt-Edged Pensions. The author was a guest at Bob Brinker's nationally syndicated radio show aired on KGO last weekend. Vallejo was mentioned several times. I was busy working and didn't hear the entire discussion, but heard something about "irresponsible politicians" promising salaries and benefits that municipalities can't afford.

Anonymous   |February.10.2009 WTF, obviously nothing is wrong with us as we don't object to firefighters getting decent pay. We do object to them getting outrageously high pay, however. Big difference.

Dialogue Monitor   |February.10.2009 "W" we only ask that you respect our decorum at VIB. You can disagree with the issues, but we would appreciate it if you respect our request to not use offensive language in your commnets. This isn't the "other" blog site so please do not soil ours with that type of behavior.

WTF???   |February.10.2009 What is wrong with valejo residents? Firefighters are badasses so you should get over them getting a decent pay

On Fire   |February.10.2009 Oh my! The PS apologists are an testy bunch over at the times-horrid. One thing for sure Marc, they wake up each morning and read VIB before starting their daily attacks. They take little tidbits and run back to the horrid, and report what they have seen. Like a bunch of gossips standing at the backyard fence. They do provide lots of free advertisement though. For sho! Hopefully they will read Ron York's op-ed piece! A little enlightenment never hurt anyone.

Anonymous   |February.10.2009 Congressional Budget Office predicts that this bill "would reduce output slightly in the long run" and thus NOT increase GDP nor help our economy. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/96xx/doc9619/Gregg.pdf

On Fire   |February.10.2009 Now Mr. York's article was funny. I see he too reads the times horrid blogs. I wonder what he thinks about the romper room bunch? All things considered, they hold a slight entertainment factor. Nothing like chuckling about some knuckleheads attacking every warm blooded body that dares to enter the threshold of "the lewd and riduclous", like ticks on a twig.

Little Old Lady   |February.10.2009 Oh and too bad about the City of Vallejo on the east side of the Napa River Straits. The State of California is planning on releaving their budget crisis by releasing thousands of prisoners early. Wanna guess where they will end up? Also, the State will have to cut all the social service programs to the bone. So no help there. Luckily for the Mare Island folks, they have a draw bridge.

Little Old Lady   |February.10.2009 The City got what it wanted out of their 'partner' Lennar. Lennar wanted to build a bunch of high end homes and get rid of anything that qualified as 'affordable'. They got it. They bulldozed the cheap little duplexes and built nice big neo-traditional McMansions because that was what their market analyses said would make them bunches of money. The City got what they wanted...a convoluted document that was intended to allow them to bulldoze any and all of the nasty old National Historic Landmarks if an economic study said it would be cheaper to build something new. That document plus the special law Mike Thompson (Napa) passed allowing a Redevelopment Area on Mare Island for economic reasons alone was the long term strategy intended to set the stage for still another barbaric round of demolition and Redevelopment...the City of Vallejo's and the GOBs' favored economic strategy. Luckily, everybody got way too greedy and the City is unlikely to ever be able to float another Redevelopment Bond. Maybe this global economic downturn will save a national treasure for long enough for some smart and decent community leaders to step forth and lead.

Captain   |February.10.2009 Ron York shares his thoughts on the court proceedings in this very entertaining policepay.net update http://policepay.blogspot.com/2009/02/vallejo-ca-bankruptcy-hearing-closing

VHS   |February.10.2009 It is encouraging to know that lennar has been in contact with Tesla, however, it appears to me that Lennar has a less than stellar track record in all of their business dealings. The influencing peddling Lennar used to get a foot hold in San Francisco stunk to high heaven. It certainly worked well for the extended Pelosi family and the current power brokers in San Francisco but for the poor people in the Hunters point area I dont think theres too much love for Lennar. It also seems to me Lennar has been a poor business partner for Vallejo. By some accounts they have obstructed growth in the clearly designated industrial area and only pursued the parts of the development agreement that benefited their pocket books. If Lennar can win the Tesla business for us it would go a long way to repairing their reputation. The jobs it would provide to our locals would be something to cheer about. In any case, thanks to Stephanie and VIB for the update.

On Fire   |February.09.2009 Now SS, tell me how you know that the process would take longer without BA? It's been in existance since long before you started working for the City and BA is all you have ever known. You need to question how all the 400 plus other cities are able to manage without it. Maybe with BA off the table, we may have a better group of people willing to run for council. Ones with some backbone and the ability to work out decisions that are what's best for the city. If you can't deal with contract negotiations, then you need not apply. In cities without BA, council makes the final decisions and can be held accountable to the tax payers. You make a decision that causes the city to not be able to balance the budget, you can be held personally liable. I say that would make people think more about if they are capable of being on council and not simply run because some special interest group funds your campaign. By your own account, you are saying that just the existence of BA has moved contract negotiations along. Why was that? Maybe that threat of the switch sitting on the table? It's a ordinance that has outlived it's usefulness. Let it go.

streetsweeper   |February.09.2009 Ok, so without binding arbitration city staff will have to negotiate for years to settle anything with the unions. Council needs to sign contracts they can honor. They signed that contract with fire then a few months later took them to binding arbitration over it and lost. How stupid is that?

Vrooom   |February.09.2009 Hey, finally a car in a price range for Vallejo Firefighters. At a base price of $109,000 they'll have a built in market right here. Oops, not really, most of those fellers don't live round here. Guess they'll be able to commute really really fast.

Fly on the Wall   |February.09.2009 Streetsweeper, that's true. However, your supervisor hasn't filled the potholes on my street, or the streets that I travel every day on my way to work (nor did he/she fill the pothole that Jon Riley drove over that bought him months of Worker's Comp. time to go abalone diving and watch Oprah). Why is that? Maybe the city doesn't have enough people to fill potholes? Same goes for Econ. Development. If you want economic development to be a priority, then fund it that way. But Ozzy said that police is his number one priority, and that's what he'll fund first and the most. That leaves a lot of potholes and less economic development all around. But damn, we sure have well paid cops.

On Fire   |February.09.2009 Street sweeper, no one said they weren't doing their job. If the city has been tied up with cutting budgets year after year, it consumes staff's time. Maybe not on your level, but mid-management is not able to focus on much else when you know you will be called in to find yet another way to cut your budget. There isn't a department at city hall that hasn't had their time consumed by the simple fact that the PSU's (and your union)have been jerking the city around for the last three years. If you count the times staff has had to make presentations at council that had to do with budget cuts I bet it would out number the regular business that they needed to be attending to. Council is the same. You can't develop a plan to bring in more revenues if you have been tied up trying to get a balanced budget with the unions having tantrums year after year. This is what has contributed to the city going bankrupt. This is why there is the need to get rid of BA, which has bogged down decision making and kept them in power.

streetsweeper   |February.09.2009 Fly on the Wall, I'm pretty sure our negotiators have to work and deal with the city. I ran across our president filling pot holes just last week. See, he is still doing his job and does not need a excuse for not doing his job for 3 years. Nobody should get a pass for not doing their job period.

On Fire   |February.09.2009 What exactly makes you think this issue is meant to be funny, Anonymous? The vote was tied, it wasn't voted down. It didn't lose. A tie means no action was taken, which means that anyone can bring it back. Look it up for yourself under Robert's Rules of Order. It had nothing to do with Soley but you seem set on blaming him for a process that you don't even understand. I doubt that there will be any surprises that will come from tomorrow's vote, but I see nothing wrong with letting the voters know where our council members stand on this issue. Wilson and Hannigan will again sit on their hands or better yet, they will have some lame excuse. You insist that Schivley is to blame for her prior vote while on Council. No one is denying that she voted, no one is hiding that fact. The history of that vote has shown that staff painted a rosier picture of the financial forecast than what actually would come to pass. Council made their decision based on staff's recommendation, and Schivley has said over and over again, they made the decision based on the facts they were presented and it was still a bad decision. This does not excuse her, or the six other people that also voted. But you can't pin the prior vote, just on her back. This last vote for a new contract for the PD, was made even though this council was fully aware of the fact that the revenues would not be there to pay for the contract. This last decision was made and five of the seven voted yes even though they knew it would further jeopardize this city's ability to move out of bankruptcy. If you think that these same people are going to be able to make this city's revenues stabilize and move forward anytime soon, your dreaming. We just witnessed one of the most irresponsible votes possible considering our current situation. Sorry, VPOA's contract will not help this city come out of bankruptcy. There is no guarantee that it will make this city safer. It doesn't guarantee that we will be able to even hire any additional police. The only guarantee, is that this city will be back at the bankruptcy door in 2010. Even if all of the bargaining units settle, we will still be broke. We are facing a 12 million dollar deficit next year. On the issue of binding arbitration, there is one important fact that people like you seem to forget. The courts ruled that binding arbitration was unconstitutional. Only cities that have an archaic form of government, still have it on their books. The fact that Vallejo has neglected to address this issue as well as the outdated city charter as a whole, is just one more reason we are in the situation we are in. There have been many people that have benefited from this city's undated rules. The unions say they have only used it a few times so what's the problem. The problem is that it's like a mother that keeps a switch on top of the table, always reminding her kids that if they get out of line, and don't do as she wishes, that she will pull that switch down and give them a whooping. It only takes a couple of times for that switch to be used and the kids soon learn to not break mother's rules. So that whole analogy that the unions have been using has played out. The voters are now saying, your right, it hasn't been used, and so why not get rid of it? There is plenty of history to show that the PSU's have been treated more than fairly, and the evidence is the salaries and benefits. This is yet another reason to get rid of BA. Councils both past and present, have given in to contracts that keep our PS employees in the top of the salary range for California. But it's time to get rid of that switch, because some of our council members use it as an excuse to not make mother mad. Some use it as an excuse to give into the PSU's stating that if they say no to anything that the unions want, they will end up in BA anyway, thereby costing the city even more. Both of these excuses can no longer be tolerated. If a council member can't make the hard decisions, decisions that benefit the entire city, not just the PSU's, then they have no business on Council. They should leave that to people who are willing and able to make good decisions for everyone in this city. Might I suggest that you google BA for government employees. There will be a ton of information on this issue. And you will find that the only people who are trying to keep it alive, are the PSU's. Now the question that you should ask, is why is that? BA is bad for business anyway you go. Taking away this option from the policy makers, makes them more accountable to the tax payers/voters. Until they have these "excuses" taken away, they will continue just as we saw a couple of weeks ago, BAU.

Fly on the Wall   |February.09.2009 Anon, you might want to get your facts straight before you spout your opinion. The Council vote was 3-3 last week on binding arbitration. This means no action was taken. This means that any council member can bring the issue back for a full vote of the Council. Since when is asking Council members to vote on an issue "putting them on the spot?" Poor Bartee, being asked to do his job. There are many causes of the bankruptcy, but numero uno is PSU contracts, which were negotiated under the constant threat of binding arbitration. Weak Councils gave into that threat, yes, but Henke et. al bullied and coerced and bought their way into those agreements. And by the way, it isn't Council members jobs to do economic development. They are policy makers. It is the Econ. Development department's job to do that. But they haven't had the time to do it because they've been negotiating with the unions for three years straight.

streetsweeper   |February.09.2009 I also thought the public has voted in the past on this issue, right? How many times? How long ago? How close was it? How much will it cost the city to do it this time?

Anonymous   |February.09.2009 Now it is starting not to be funny. Last week the Council voted down Schively's motion to put BA on the ballot (after the citizens could not get enough support to put it on themselves), now she puts it back on to put Bartee on the spot. I always thought that if an item lost it could not come back on, unless the winning side placed it back on. Who made the ruling to allow it back on ? Soley ?? It figures, we know where he is coming from???..For those of you that believe that BA caused bankruptcy, you have a lot to learn. Again it was caused by Council actions, (and again Schively is the only one still there that approved those contracts), but some of you just won't accept that. Why don't we let Judge McManus do his job and let the Council work on important items, like economic developement and bring new revenues into the City. All this Council has done for the past year, is decide on if we are bankrupt; how to negotiate; who is to blame; none of which they have a say in by the rules of our Charter. But they can direct developement and that is what they should be doing. Most people can see clearly, that Shively is just trying to keep her Mayorial hopes alive (she has already lost before)and keep her small group of supporters focused on the Big Bad Employees and completely forget about her past 8 years of decison makings....She is killing our City.....Lets move forward once and for all.....

Insider   |February.09.2009 Streetsweeper, Binding arbitration isnt the scary tool for your union as it is for PSU. The IBEW has never threatend that the children will die and the the old people would burn if IBEW didnt show up for work... Also, I didnt notice any IBEW members picture on the infamous Georgia Street billboard...

streetsweeper   |February.09.2009 Hey what's the big deal with binding arbitration? IBEW has it and look at our wages and benifits. I made a average salary for what I do compared to other cities. Also, all those fat contracts for PSU in the past were not given by a arbitrator. They were signed by council just like the other week with the cops, right?

Anonymous   |February.09.2009 Santa Rosa: Also represented by Patricia Wiggins. What's good for them is definitely good for us!

Insider info.   |February.09.2009 I thought VIB readers might be interested in knowing the the City of Santa Rosa is in talks with their fire deparment over wages. Mind you over 60% of their fire deparment live in the community they work in. They are anticipating lay offs and "brown outs." Unlike our fire department, their union is trying to figure out how they can cut costs, including some ranking department heads accepting demotions so that they can reduce pay, and help other fire personel not get laid off. Santa Rosa sits in Sonoma County, an affuent and well-to-do community, surrounded by wineries and hip places to eat and shop. If they cannot sustain their PSU contracts, how can their working class cousins in Vallejo? Maybe you care more about the city you work in, if you live there, it's hard to rob the coffers if your neighbor's taxes are paying your salary...

Anonymous   |February.09.2009 I might agree if weren't so evident that those you speak of have their heads up the rear of the union monster. On second thought, their so far up the rear of this monster the only thing visible is four pair of "Loafers" and a pair of "Pumps"; all with the union label stamped on their soles. - now there's a Sunday funny?

Anonymous   |February.09.2009 I might agree if it weren

Anonymous   |February.09.2009 Amazing?

Anonymous   |February.09.2009 Six Flags, one of top 15 companies that might not survive 2009: "Six Flags...has been losing money for several years, forcing it to sell off properties to pay down debt. Forecasts also clall for negative cash flow in 2009, which could hurt the company's ability to pay off debts next year." In light of dire warnings about the economy getting worse, not better, over the next couple of years, our brilliant Funded Four + Ozzy agree to a deal with police that promises raises and covers their health care 100%. Amazing.

Captain   |February.09.2009 Anonymous Eureka's Glen Zeimer questions Wiggins and asks for accountability in this oppinion piece: http://www.times-standard.com/othervoices/ci_11651822 Eureka has issues similar to Vallejo and Vallejo is refrenced in the comments section. The author does a good job outlining some of the issues that are affecting cities - including poor coverage from local media.

PSU Watch   |February.09.2009 In addition to heart disease, our public safety employees can claim things like skin cancer as a job-related injury. What a joke. The Forbes article says it all. The comments section is interesting, with the cops and FFs whining that the danger in their jobs is an excuse for ripping off the taxpayers and bankrupting our system. (and if any public safety employee retires and gets benefits, he/she should not be able to take another public safety job without forgoing those benefits.) Funny, though, they're the only ones who seem to agree with the "danger = outrageous benefits" line of reasoning. And there are many more of us -- voters -- than there are of them. So we can change this outrage by demanding that our elected officials refrain from taking public safety campaign dollars and assistance, and demanding that they change this system NOW.

Anonymous   |February.09.2009 Thanks for the Forbes tip. Vallejo will have a lot of company soon. And what does Wiggins do? Push for a bill that creates it harder for cities to declare bankruptcy instead of solving the problem that is leading us into BK. But as the Forbes article says "the pensions is a political third rail, touching them is suicide". The author ends with: "Cops and firemen initially were granted early retirement because their work was physically demanding and they tended to die young. These days they live as long as everyone else, but early retirement lives on for an ever expanding pool of public workers. So do liberal disability rules. Nevada law 617.457 decrees that heart disease among uniformed safety workers is job-related. The medical reality, says the American Heart Association, is that a fireman gets heart disease from diet, lack of exercise or genes, not from dashing into burning buildings. Still, veteran Las Vegas firemen hobbled by heart disease can collect an inflation-protected $40,000 a year for life on top of their pension. That applies even if they're healthy enough to work in another occupation."

Disgusted   |February.09.2009 Part of an article from PolicePay.NET Here is the link http://www.policepayjournal.net/ Retired San Jose city workers are eligible for a health plan with premiums fully paid by the pension system, and they roughly split annual contributions with the city toward that benefit. But those contributions haven't kept up with the projected future cost of benefits, creating an estimated $1.65 billion liability. The police and firefighter retirement system has only 5 percent of its projected health care benefit costs funded. Under the proposed agreement, the officers would see their retiree health care contribution rates rise over five years, from 3.78 to 9.44 percent of their base pay. City officials said that would help bridge the gap and leave the fund able to cover those future costs. And what does Vallejo do--continue to pay 100% for PSU Members Our Negotiatiors sure know how to drive a hard bargain.

Little Old Lady   |February.09.2009 Stand way back from the meltdown... Six Flags was listed as one of the 15 firms most likely to file bankruptcy this year on today's investor news.

Captain   |February.09.2009 Here's an excellent article from FORBES: Gilt-Edged Pensions Apparently PS's need for early retirement due to shortened life spans is a myth. But that's not what the article is about. It's worth reading. http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0216/078

NBR   |February.09.2009 Streetsweeper |February.07.2009 .....You folks should be happy that crazy formula the PSU had for salaries is gone. That was insane and it unreal when I found out about it. Henke was a master to pull that off. Give credit where credit is due. The "formula" was a city generated idea. The "city" pulled it off. All that done before Henke was even a union board member.

Streetsweeper   |February.08.2009 On fire, good for you it's nice to enjoy the rain with a tini and good company.

On Fire   |February.08.2009 Street Sweeper, it hasn't been 24 hours, more like 10 hours. As for myself, was out enjoying a rainy Sunday afternoon. Ate a great lunch and topped it off with a wonderful VIB-tini. I don't think you have made the banished list. If you do, you will know. You will become "he whose name shall not be spoken".

streetsweeper   |February.08.2009 Thanks I thought I was banished for bad behavior forever.

Fly on the Wall   |February.08.2009 Yes, Streetsweeper, you were naughty and were put in a cyber time out. I think you don't get released until tomorrow morning.

streetsweeper   |February.08.2009 Hey, did you guys banish me to a alternate universe cause nobody has put up a post for 24 hours.

streetsweeper   |February.08.2009 Oops that's 167k base 75k overtime and 42k other

streetsweeper   |February.08.2009 The top wage earner in fire made a base wage of $167k last year. His overtime was $75k. Total was $285k. So 26 percent of his pay was overtime. Even if you rolled this guy's salary back 10 percent it would not lower his total much. He would then make $256k and would that be ok? Overtime is the issue but if you do not have the workers what can you do?

Anonymous   |February.07.2009 Yes, we do need revenue in the form of new businesses and industries. No arguing that. But our economy is shrinking, not growing. We won't see many new businesses or industry starting up, other than medical (Touro cancer center) or maybe clean energy, and even those will be a few years down the road before they are built and generate revenues. So again, we're stuck for a few years of having to live within our existing means. Which means cutting employee costs. And with the PSUs taking up 3/4 of our budget, that's where it will have to come from. I can't afford to drive a Ferrari or travel to Hawaii twice a year, so I drive a Honda and vacation in California. Vallejo can't afford to give away free health care or to have employees in the $150k to $250k club, so we'll have to make due with employees who are happy to have a $100k job that pays their Vallejo mortgage and and have health care at all, let alone pay a portion of it.

Streetsweeper   |February.07.2009 How much stuff in Walmart is made in the U.S. or made by union emplyees? Almost none! Revenue is what we need not taxes but if you folks continue this attack on the PSU forever things will never change. You folks should be happy that crazy formula the PSU had for salaries is gone. That was insane and it unreal when I found out about it. Henke was a master to pull that off.

Anonymous   |February.07.2009 So following your logic, SS, we don't need employee unions in the city of Vallejo because these employees are not abused and are treated way more than ok. Cool. Let's call Judge Mcmanus and tell him he doesn't need to rule on Tuesday because we don't need unions in Vallejo. Oh, and SS, have ya noticed the economic disaster the country and the state is in? If you think there will be any major new businesses in the downtown in the next couple of years, you've had too many cheap vodka martinis. Thats not the council's fault or anyone else in Vallejo. And so logic says that new revenues will depend on new taxes. Ain't gonna happen. Not in this economy or with unchecked city employee salaries and benefits. So we're back to having to spend within our budget reality. Cutting employee costs. I don't blame any of the Council for the failure to bring in new businesses right now. I will blame every one of them who fails to vote to control costs.

Streetsweeper   |February.07.2009 The whole world is not union ok. There is a balance and Kmart, Walmart, Target, and the dollar store do not have a union. I believe unions are needed where there is abuse of workers but not where employees are treated ok. We can not chase every large industry away because we find some fault with it. I mean Benicia has a oil refinery and they make it work right? You folks would lose your minds if a refinery wanted to come here right? If you really want a down town to be a Meca we need to make money along with the control of costs. I just hope the council feels the same way.

Anonymous   |February.07.2009 I don't understand SS. I was raised with die hard union supporters who would never ever cross a picket line out of solidarity for their fellow union members. Yet you think it's ok to support anti-union Walmart even though SEIU is fighting it and their anti-union practices? How do you choose to stand united with some unions (Vallejo PSUs), and let others (SEIU) hang out to dry and leave workers alone in their struggle for fair wages and treatment?

V-Town Voter   |February.07.2009 Gomes is a pit-bull, but not just on the PSU issue. She expects that all developers pay their fare share and bring nicer development to Vallejo, not more schlock. She wants all employees to be treated fairly, not just the favorites. She's not afraid to call it like it is. She supports things with as much passion as she opposes others. She doesn't bow down to the powers that used-to-be, whether its good old boys or Henke. I don't always agree with her, but I agree with her vision and her passion for Vallejo. Compared to the Funded Four, I at least know she's not paying back big campaign donors when she casts her votes. Vallejo needs more pit-bulls!

On Fire   |February.07.2009 There is this continuous cry from the apologist about, don't get on the unions for only doing their job. Well, isn't protecting other workers from being treated unfairly by union busting corporations, part of the union's job? Aren't unions supposed to fight the good fight against store like wallymart? Or is there some special rules for unions here in Vallejo? I saw that the trades were okay with a store coming to town that took away union protections, like salaries from other union store employees, as long as they got the PLA to build the store? Just how does that work?

On Fire   |February.07.2009 So now we are getting to the meat and potatoes SS. So your saying it's okay to have non-union development, as long as it's moving the city forward? So the "union protection" only applies to your salary and benefits, but everyone else is on their own? Where exactly does the "union" theory apply to stores that employ non-union employees that are abused? In the case of wallymart, it's okay to let them hire people who don't have union protected benefits, salaries and rights, as long as they contribute to the sales tax that helps pays for YOUR union protected salaries and benefits? Is that it? Help me out here because it sounds convoluted to me.

Streetsweeper   |February.07.2009 On Walmart I do not like that they are non union but not everyone is union and that's ok. Kmart was not union and they were there for many years. I just want to see progress, anything at all. The downtown is being reduced to a war zone ant Bachi is gone with the movie house closed. When will you folks demand progress? If Gomes was a pitbull like she is for the PSU for progress I would vote for again. Yes I did vote for her last time.

On Fire   |February.07.2009 I just love it when the union people complain about Vallejo losing wallymart, the mega 99 cent store. First, we didn't lose anything. The economy had wallymart rethinking several planned mega stores, Vallejo being one of them. This was in the financial pages of many newspapers and not a VIB theory. Only the wallymart fan club members seemed to miss this. That old line of "we lost walmart to AC" has been debunked several times. They planned the AC store for sometime before Vallejo was mentioned. Vallejo was second on the list of desired locations, and they thought they could just march in and get what they wanted. Much like the other developers, they want what they want, and community be damned. Remember that your mayor campaigned on how the people of Vallejo should tell developers what we want and not the other way around? When are we going to see this from him? SS, how do you look in your fellow union member's eyes when you cry about how you miss walmart? Or do all of your union members overlook the misuse of non-union workers at walmart and shop there anyway? Does the brotherhood of union workers not apply to the employees of wallymart? Is this why the Vallejo unions sat silently when the walmart issue came up? This sounds a little hypocritical don't you think? As for the personal lives of others, I say clean up your own backyard before speaking. If this was adhered to by most speakers, I think we would pretty much hear crickets.

Streetsweeper   |February.07.2009 sorry if I affended anyone but I live in this town and know lots of people. I would never give out details that are personal. And again I'm no angel, stuff happens.consider this topic dropped I'll stay on the issues.

Fly on the Wall   |February.07.2009 Streetsweeper, you know nothing about what happens in people's personal lives. You can guess all you want, but be careful before you spread lies and rumors. And you degrade your standing and your arguments when you hide behind Times Horrid slime throwing. As far as WalMart goes, they chose to move to AmCan, they chose not to locate at the old K-Mart site. They had the green light from the prior council to go ahead with their economic study, but chose not to, remember? And if you're so "union," why would you want a WalMart, when it is the most anti-union organization in the world? Isn't that screwing your SEIU "brothers and sisters?"

curious   |February.07.2009 Editor.... You need to delete the last streetsweeper post. It falls into the catagory of vile and personal nastiness. Send him back to the TH where that garbage is tolerated.

Streetsweeper   |February.07.2009 What's with this 5-2 garbage? All 7 voted for this bankruptcy and the millions it cost. Who knows what the final costs will be or the impact to this city. All 7 have been responsible for bringing in 0 revenue. It makes me sick everytime I drive by the new walmart store then by the old Kmart site that is now a huge empty parking lot. What a joke. Also, I like Gomes but she needs to think twice before giving a speech on ethics. I know her man's ex and she might have somthing to say about ethics. I'm no angel but I don't give speeches on ethics. Gomes is fearless I will give you folks that.

Fly on the Wall   |February.07.2009 Yes, Cranky Pants. Let's look at who on the Council have been paid for by police and fire. Erin, Michael, Tom and Hermie got PSU endorsements and money. Osby has been promised support for his beloved and lucrative strong mayor change by police and fire. Gee, those are the five who voted for the police contract. The two who didn't vote for the contract and demanded more concessions from police...hmmm...let's see. They didn't receive money or endorsements from police or fire. So who is bought and who is proving it with their votes? The Funded majority is leading this Council and this city down the path towards ruination. Which is just what their buddy Henke wanted in the first place.

Anonymous   |February.07.2009 Sorry, CrankPants, you can't lump Shivley and Gomes in with the Funded Four + Ozzy. They fought this contract and the five wouldn't listen. Remember, it was a 5-2 vote. Good try, though. Throw the baby out with the bathwater. But we do have good council members up there. Unfortunately, they're in the minority.

Cranky Pants   |February.07.2009 In all of the back and forth about union contracts I derive great amusement from all of the "he said she said" blame games. At the end of the day the police unions should not be getting the blame for the current contract. I feel dirty having said that, but it is the truth. We must remember that the police unions primary mission is to negociate the best contract for their members. Public safety or how the city is going to pay for the contracts is not part of their concern. TO perfectly clear I absolutely do not like the current "agreement" as it simply continues good ole' BAU. The blame rests solely with the craptacular 7 and their super duper wonderful "negociator". It is the job of the craptacular 7 to outline to the management and negociating teams what exactly the best interests of the people are even if you have sucked at the teet of the very unions you are negociating against. The craptacualr 7 has shown a wonderful ability to escape this responsability,even when forced into a corner they seem to show almost super hero levels of stupidity to get out of doing what is best for the people . Yet I have not yet heard the drum beat of the word "recall" at council meetings. It is time for us as people to let the craptacular 7 know that their jobs are on the line and we will have no problem recalling them. For all of the acumen these self proclaimed business people have shown leading our city through bankruptcy and contract negociations I am utterly shocked that they still have businesses let alone homes. If we started now we could lump it in with the november election thus saving the costs of a seperate "special" election. Isn't it worth at least thinking about? Vallejo, where we're not happy till your not happy.

Robert Schussel   |February.07.2009 Anonymous Since Mr. Nichelini's workload calculation for Vallejo was over 200% too high I don't feel it is prudent to comment on workloads until I get an explanation for the discrepancy.

silasbarnabe   |February.07.2009 Robert I guess anonymous AKA "interesting" slithered back to the times horrid. He knows we all have his number here.

Robert Schussel   |February.07.2009 Anonymous According to PolicePay.Net ,Vallejo Police worker few regualr hours per year than their peers due to the extremely rich vacation and sick leave benefits. I think its time you slither back to the TH where your PSU aplogist friends can cheering you on.

Robert Schussel   |February.07.2009 Anonymous I am NOT ready to be your messenger. I guess you spoke to the Mr. Nichelini and want me to bless his numbers . I did receive some workload data from Mr. Nichelini yesterday--my how timely is your question--must be sheer coincidence. 1)Before doing anything with them I need to make sure every City collects its data in exactly the same way. Since you are so knowledgable can you provide the statistics I require on a consistient metric. Vallejo's wage Consultant in his deposition ( see my article about the City giving away $600K+ in VPOA negotiations) spoke against the use of workloads-- so why are so hot to use it. 2) Your rationale doesn't make sense. If high crime rates justified high pay why are police in Detroit,New York etc NOT the highest paid and why are Police in some low crime areas like Palo Alto well compensated. 3) Vallejo Police are willing to have higher workloads to justify their higher wages. So some of their workload is artifically inflated/distorted .

silasbarnabe   |February.07.2009 Onfire- There is someone else that posts on the times horrid that uses the same modus operandi, asking for information when the burden of prrof is on them......we all know who that is

On Fire   |February.07.2009 Anonymous, why don't you give us the police work load study you keep requesting that someone else do? My understanding is that work load studies and crime stats aren't used for salary studies. Now why is that? One would think that if using those stats as part of a salary study would enhance the chance of a higher salary, they would be using it already.

Anonymous   |February.07.2009 Captain, Once again your logic is wrong. The number of hours worked is 10 hours, this is not the workload. Also, using your logic of just being paid for 40 hours work regardless of the amount or type of work performed, a cop in St Helena should be paid the same as one in Oakland, Richmond or Vallejo. The next issue relates to the vacation time and somehow you figure a way to suggest workload is less because of more vacation taken. Well, you can't have it both ways...All of the concern about high vacation payouts is the result of Not using vacation time, so which is it? Vacation time used or not used. I guess it will vary depending on the point you are trying to make. Typical.

Captain   |February.07.2009 The workload for VPD is 10 hours per day, less breaks. If you want to annualize that and account for the 7 weeks vacation, 3 weeks sick time, and 130 hours of paid holiday leave the work load is 1550 hours per year for senior officers. That's the equivalent of 29.8 hours per week which equals the work load. If you sign up to work 40 hours per week then what's the problem with working 40 hours? Why would you think you should receive additional comp for doing what you signed up to do?

Anonymous   |February.07.2009 Schussell, I'm still waiting for you to do a work load study comparing VPD with the other departments. Don't you think pay should be related to workload? If the ratio of violent criminal incidents to police officer is at the top of the list (probably 1st), most people would believe those officers should be paid at the top of the list.

Sonic Toad   |February.07.2009 Fly, unfortunately Ozzie, Wilson, Spammigan, and Bartee are too stupid and arrogant to look backwards and realize their own mistakes. I see all over our city staff and council majority this idiotic viewpoint that they know best and there is no need to actually "listen" and comprehend other opinions. I'm talking about opinions from our residents, but also listening to residents and politicians from other cities going thru similar circumstances. I have listened and done my own research regarding both sides of this issue. The numbers just don't add up to support this VPOA contract. History will judge these poor decision makers in the long run. The previous deal was already proven to be a bad one and was opposed by a select group of very intelligent residents who happened to be right. Why these same individuals would be ignored again with such a good track record is beyond me. Please pipe up about this strong mayor garbage. It's disgusting that Ozzie refuses to help do away with BA unless he gets what he wants. I don't care if he has money problems and needs the job. Being a mayor or a council member is about being "selfless" and serving the best interests of Vallejo. I have yet to see this from the council majority. Why a lawyer would be having money problems is pretty amazing. Do we really want a mayor who can't manage his own bank book? Strikes of Pam Pitts doesn't it in the last Mayoral race.

Finally Got It   |February.07.2009 The reality is, Vallejo is a great place to own section 8 rental housing. My goal after living in Vallejo for 18 years is to leave as soon as I am financially able to do it. Downtown is more blighted now than when I moved here.

Little Old Lady   |February.07.2009 The key to America's economic system is choice. We can choose to buy a Honda because it is a better value even though we know that it undercuts the big 4 automakers who keep trying to sell us the same stupid muscle cars. That stupidity to economic realities ended up killing the American automobile industry. They did not get that this was not Russia and you cannot force people to buy what they don't want no matter how many ads you run. So here we are in Vallejo and the people that run this town and make all the decisions are afflicted with the same kind of clueless thinking. So what will happen?? People are and will vote with their dollars. No sense going to the City Council (bought) or the newspaper (bought). Vallejo's home prices will continue to fall as people move out so their kids will be able to go to better and safer schools, they won't be surrounded by social deviants, they will save a lot of money in insurance and they won't get hit with a public safety tax to pay protection so the police will do their job. The vacant houses will continue to be sold to investors who will rent them to whomever which will increase the cycle of economic and social disinvestment. The increasing costs and the inefficiency in City Hall as they try to tack on more and more permit fees will keep businesses from taking a chance on locating here. It will be hard to pass a safety tax on property when building owners live out of town and could care less. The big 4 automakers kept those ads running showing their huge vehicles mud running through stream beds but it did not keep them out of bankruptcy. And the Vallejo GOBs can keep up the drumming about bringing economic development when even Mike Wilson recognizes reality and has moved his office back to Benicia. The American people are a little tired of paying for stupidity so I don't think the GOB's should be counting on magic.

Fly on the Wall   |February.07.2009 Response, you nailed it. With the new VPOA contract, Vallejo lost all the momentum we had in BK to fix the problem. The Funded Four and Ozzy will rue the day they didn't listen to Joanne, Stephanie or the public lined up to say, "Dont sign this!" I can't see a way to make it up on the remaining three groups. And the cops are laughing all the way to the bank. Bartee and Sunga should never be re-elected in November. Wilson, Hannigan and Ozzy should be outer in 2011. You have to pay for willful ignorance.

Captain   |February.07.2009 29 Stockton Police Officers To Be Laid Off Stockton City Leaders Announce Cuts In Special Session http://www.kcra.com/news/18658295/detail

Response   |February.06.2009 Sometimes it is a lot easier to put things into perpective when it is put into more familiar terms. I hope you liked the analogy. The numbers aren't there, I am not sure exactly how many people are in the General Fund for IBEW, lets be generous and say 100, if you make them pay 20% of their medical, remembering they are the lowest paid and will feel the hit the worst, that is a maximum of say 3600 for a total of 360k, that doesn't equal 10M, that's assuming they all have family medical coverage. Even adding furlough at 2 days a month, that won't get you much above 1M. The focus has been lost and with VPOA getting off Scot-Free, it is too late... Not even IAFF could close that big of a gap. Council is after IBEW due to public perception, it doesn't matter if it is a drop in the bucket at this point. I was totally behind this until the morons approved the VPOA extension, there were tens of thousands to be reaped per VPOA member, now it is too late. We would have to get a really good deal from Cal-Fire and disband the Fire Department to make that up. Yo need an average of 100K per IAFF member. The momentum is gone, we, as a city, are screwed... The council should be personally liable for this crap, how can anyone be that stupid?! If any one of those idiots who voted for this gets re-elected, I am positive that the residents of this city should be prevented from breeding. Maybe the Judge has power that we are unaware of, else, we will need a miracle to fix this!

On Fire   |February.06.2009 Response,I hear what you are saying and I am not trying to coming off sounding like I am lumping everyone together. I know for a fact that there are plenty of people that get it and have been a part of the good fight. But what about the rest? The evil twins have always been the problem, and they have had help from mom, the enabler. As the "bad seed" they have infected the rest of the family and caused the entire family to be disfunctional. So unless the other members of the extended family stand up and turn things around, we will have this same discussion in a few months.

Response to On Fire   |February.06.2009 "But there has to be some concessions from all groups so to be fair" Let us pretend, you are Dad, City Council and Mayor are Mom, VPOA and IAFF are twins and IBEW and Camp are siblings of the twins. All 4 of the children are close to high school graduation but not yet 18. The twins have always been Mom's favorites who could do no wrong. They were spoiled and given gifts that were not extended to the other two children and were often at the expense of the other two children. Dad always made plenty of money to support the family but Dad recently got demoted due to recession and doesn't make the same money. The twins got mom to give them all of the savings Dad had and then broke into a store and caused damages that Mom and Dad were liable for, so Dad does nothing with Mom's favorite twin, VPOA, makes Camp get a part-time job, with the huge remainder to be obtained from the other two children, IBEW may have to work full-time and there is even talk of just kicking the other twin, IAFF, out of the house... As you said, it is only fair... Perhaps while you get that second job, new taxes, you can lament how bad of a parent you have been, and still are, while mom still really runs the house at the behest of the favored twin... Maybe if the twins were ever held to task, you might realize the problem has always been the twins and their twisted relationship with Mom, the drunk whore. I know it is not all your fault, but I will blame you (not all the citizens of Vallejo, myself included), it is only fair...

Anonymous   |February.06.2009 CBO: Obama stimulus harmful over long haul Wednesday, February 4, 2009 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/04/cbo-obama-stimulus-harmful-over-long-haul/ President Obama's economic recovery package will actually hurt the economy more in the long run than if he were to do nothing, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday. CBO, the official scorekeepers for legislation, said the House and Senate bills will help in the short term but result in so much government debt that within a few years they would crowd out private investment, actually leading to a lower Gross Domestic Product over the next 10 years than if the government had done nothing. CBO estimates that by 2019 the Senate legislation would reduce GDP by 0.1 percent to 0.3 percent on net. [The House bill] would have similar long-run effects, CBO said in a letter to Sen. Judd Gregg, New Hampshire Republican, who was tapped by Mr. Obama on Tuesday to be Commerce Secretary.

On Fire   |February.06.2009 Thanks Robert for putting together this report. I have to wonder when it is that the voting public will ever wise up to the fact that they are never really told what the city's contracts will actually cost us. Maybe it's because of some government-welfare-subsidy type of mentality that has made the majority of voters complacent? Having the feds take care of everything for too many years and not having to question the decisions that were made? When the city was flush with revenues and jobs, there was little to worry about, and that's how we ended up with so much dead wood being employed at City Hall. So many people just sitting on "special projects" and drawing a pay check and building their retirements nest eggs. This slowly began to change when the feds pulled out of Vallejo and the new hires like Ms. Barclay came on board and discovered the total amount of deadwood we were carrying. Then came the contracts, and fresh eyes looked at what the city was doing and the unions went ballistic. It's been like this ever since. We start off being upset that the secret negotiations have produced these unsustainable salaries and benefits, then when the unions start their fear campaigns, the citizens quiet their voice of concern, and we have yet another unsustainable contract signed. No big public outcry, even when they know that they will be asked to suffer through increased and additional "revenue enhancements" otherwise known as tax increases. This contract was never negotiated, it was settled. Just like the mayor wanted. Ms. Salerno and anyone else who was in on this deal should be fired for presenting this "half truth" about the best deal the city could have negotiated. Craig and Sandy were not qualified to do any negotiations, and yet if the great oz has his way, he will push once again to fire Tanner, and push Sandy into his office. Who would object since she got us such a great deal with VPOA? Again, she is not qualified for the job of CM either. But with her taking over, the oz will be able to continue with his micro-managing, thus having something to add to his resume for STRONG MAYOR! You can smell it coming. Another pile of hot mess for the citizens of Vallejo.

Firebug   |February.06.2009 Do you have to guess? I wonder what others besides Hermie might comment on their NO vote. I can hardly wait until one his precinct walkers comes to my place and asks if I will support Hermie in the next election....I will respond "I don't have enough information to support him".

Anonymous   |February.06.2009 Binding arbitration is back on the agenda for Tuesday. Because it was a 3-3 vote, there was no action. I wonder how Bartenke will vote?

streetsweeper   |February.06.2009 Psu watch, from what I have heard about what happpend it sounds like the city made a huge mistake. Belnap did his second response that went through the IBEW survey which would give the city access to the only survey done by anybody on IBEW. Without that that survey or Mr Akins on the stand the city has nothing for proving the IBEW makes too much. Also they have to explain to the judge why they would do a survey for PSU but not IBEW.I think if the city would allow IBEW to keep the Kaiser plan they have now that makes retirees pay a large portion of the medical, we would have a deal. I have heard we already offered not to take increases for years and to take furlough days.

VHS   |February.06.2009 Well done Katy, thank you for the update.

Captain   |February.05.2009 Vallejo: Deal Or No Deal Article from the "Bond Buyer". A must read: http://www.bondbuyer.com/article?id=20090205T01YQ03W&pagenum=2&numpages=2

On Fire   |February.05.2009 Street Sweeper, the union's attorney argued Tuesday that they didn't want the second part of the Belnap response to be submitted into evidence, because he had included a survey for IBEW. I believe they wanted to depose Belnap prior to letting him discuss that part of his response. I understood that there was some trade off about his response not being admitted as long as the union's attorney didn't bring Akins to the stand, because the city's atty would then show how Akins' numbers were wrong. So maybe unless there is some trade off, neither of those salary studies will be entered. But that doesn't preclude the judge from still making the remaining unions open their contracts. I guess it would have to be re-negotiated? Bottom line though, if IBEW doesn't settle their negotiations, and the judge does re-open the contracts, you may not get a better deal than if you settled. From what I've read, it seems that IBEW's medical shouldn't be changed since you guys have been paying you own way all along. (almost) But there has to be some concessions from all groups so to be fair, I suppose they will be looking to cut something. Hope you guys work something out soon. Thanks Kati for the update. I understand that 90 percent of Woodruff's objections were overruled on Tuesday. It appears that she isn't persuading the judge very much the last two court dates with her arguements.

streetsweeper   |February.05.2009 In response to the court update my union rep said that the city did not do a salary survey for IBEW so they planned on the use of the union's survey. Since the union will not use the survey the city has nothing now to prove the IBEW salaries are too much. The IBEW is in great shape because the CAMP and police deal is much beter than what they have been offered.

Captain   |February.05.2009 Bankrupt Vallejo sick costs http://calpensions.com/2009/02/05/bankrupt-vallejos-sick-costs/

Captain   |February.05.2009 Bankrupt Vallejo

Captain   |February.05.2009 Bankrupt Vallejo

Captain   |February.05.2009 POLICEPAY.NET - Where We Stand On Vallejo http://policepay.blogspot.com/2009/02/policepaynet-where-we-stand-on-vallejo

The scoop...   |February.05.2009 For over twenty years, the City of Vallejo has been managed by "outsiders." Our leaders influenced by out of town politians and groups such as the unions (who are in bed with the politians.) That's why some of our council members dont vote for what's good for our city, but listen to Senators, Assembly persons, Union reps when it comes time to vote. If these same politicians lived in our community they would be voting on whats best for Vallejo, not whats best for another County. Wiggins and Evans are both "Wine Country Gals" following what their constituents dicate, great for their county, bad for Vallejo. Most of the PSU do not live in Vallejo, so they support the actions of Wiggins and Evans as well. Vallejo bears the burden of the overflow of adjacent cities low income housing. Napa wants to remain pristine, and known as the Wine Country, they have not fullfilled their obligation to build over 3400 units of affordable housing, that is why we end up with many of their low income folks. Napa has a serious problem with lack of sources of water, but wineries are popping up everywhere, not the most sustainable crop to grow, but you dont see Wiggins or Evans putting a moratorium on wineries, just the opposite, they supported over 40 new liquor licences last year. Vallejo suddenly had their Ferry take away with the endorsement of Senator Wiggins, and given to the State (a play by Don Perata and his Alameda wealthy developer friend Ron Cowan.) So the long arm of the politicians even influenced what happened to our ferry. We need to vote for senators, assembly persons that are from our city or our county. We need to stop looking at if they have a "D" or a "R" next to their name and blindly voting. If we are represented by politicans outside of our city and county, we are always going to get "crumbs" and treated as second class. We need to get our "MoJo" back...

VHS   |February.05.2009 Here is a Vallejo vs. Chico comparison. Vallejo CAFR 2007 Property taxes 23,812,446 Sales taxes ...12,517,648 Other taxes ...6,686,545 Utility taxes 12,746,862 Tot Tax Revenue 55,763,501 Fire service .. 25,238,098 Police service 38,050,873 City Manager 405,000 Safety Services cost 63,288,971 Total General Fund expenses.. 83,178,534 Vallejo Demographics 2005 Median income.. 50,030 Population..... 117,483 Violent Crime.. 1,206 Land Area sq mi 30.20 Vallejo Ratios Vallejo General Fund Public Safety 76% Vallejo tax per resident $474 Vallejo Violent crime per 100 residents 1.02 Vallejo Manager wage per tax rev.(*100) .73 .................................. Chico CAFR 2007 Property taxes 37,062,036 Taxes ........ 27,165,852 Tot Tax Revenue 64,227,888 Safety Services cost 34,653,773 City Manager 89,000 Total General (minus Chicos GVRD) Fund expenses.. 87,055,547 ChicoDemographics 2006 Median income.. 29,359 Population..... 71,427 Violent Crime.. 337 Land Area sq mi 22.4 Chico Ratios Chico General Fund Public Safety 40% Chico tax per resident $899 Chico Violent crime per 100 residents .47 Chico Manager wage per tax rev.(*100) .14

Anonymous   |February.05.2009 Chico firefighters give up raises to save jobs Tuesday, February 3, 2009 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/02/03/state/n102208S70.DTL (02-03) 10:22 PST Chico, CA (AP) -- The union representing Chico firefighters has agreed to give up raises for two years and roll back wages for new hires to save jobs. Firefighters were scheduled to receive 4 percent increases this year and next. Eliminating those will save the city about $800,000 over two years. Chico also will pay about $66,000 less in health and dental insurance coverage. With the fire union's agreement, all eight of the city's employee groups have now accepted wage and health insurance concessions the city sought to balance its budget. City Manager Dave Burkland says if the City Council ratifies the new firefighters' contract, officials could rescind layoff notices that already have been sent to five firefighters.

Streetsweeper   |February.04.2009 Well if we are not going to focus on new revenue we should prepare for hard times. So what can we drink that's cheap? Having a glass of cabernet Sauvignon by Charles Shaw at $2.00 a bottle or 25 cents a glass if you pour 4 glasses. Might have to find cheap asprin to follow.

Big City   |February.04.2009 "...bringing more revenue into Vallejo..."? Dream on! That's a softer way of saying "EXTRACTING more revenue from the folks that are already in Vallejo and bringing it into the city coffers so the madness can be continued".

Firebug   |February.04.2009 When I heard Hermie say he agreed with the Mayor and we have more important things to do like finding additional revenue he could have at least rolled his shirt sleeves up (to appear to be hard working) like Bush counseled Brownie to do during the Katrina disaster.

Anonymous   |February.04.2009 SS do you think the Council really wants to bring in revenue? They like Vallejo just the way it is. These people wpuld never survive in any of the surrounding towns. We are the Baltic Avenue in the Bay Area and everyone likes it that way. Here's who controls our City (in bed with the PSUs): -Hermie "sounds like a Banana Republic Leader I wonder if he owns 1 thousand pairs of shoes" Sunga -Michael "I can't vote on anything cause my hands in every pot" Wilson -Erin "I wanna be like daddy get me up to Sacramento I don't need to run again" Hannigan -Ozzy "the man who would be king 'cuz god said so" Davis -Tom "slimeball lets get rich on Vallejo by buying/selling the Charles Hotel" Bartee And then there's the Chamber or Commerce who for years was given a lucrative contract to attract business here. I remember the year their rep Anita Hawkes presented to the Council a little froggy keychain that had "Vallejo" stamped on its back and when it was squeezed it stuck its tongue out. It was the city contract that paid for these froggies. That says it all. We're doomed to have a town run by idiots.

Disbeliever   |February.04.2009 Bringing into this city increased revenue is very important but we also must make sure there is no wasteful spending and what has happened to Vallejo is very wasteful. By using the topic of increasing of revenue as a deflection away from the topic of wasteful spending degrades both points.

streetsweeper   |February.04.2009 Fly on the Wall, our labor group is cut to the bone and the only positions under the general fund that don't bring in money to the general fund are the com operators. If you cut them who answers the phone for police or fire? Also, revenue has to be addressed with new taxes or somthing else. I live here and do not want to pay more taxes like many of you. I know new revenue will not happen overnight but we have to start now. What happend to the plan to contact Tesla? That's what the city should have been talking about last night. This battle with public safety is bad for the city and it's other workers.

Disbeliever   |February.04.2009 It must have been an off night for Mr Sunga.

Disbeliever   |February.04.2009 I mean no disrespect

Disbeliever   |February.04.2009 Really

Disbeliever   |February.04.2009 What I saw last night at the council meeting had me in disbelief. It is not that I do not believe that some politicians make bad choices for what seems to me to be bad reasons but seeing it in person in its full nakedness is quite breathtaking. Voting to put binding arbitration on the ballot seemed to be a no brainer. While binding arbitration did not force Vallejo bankrupt it did start the chain of events that led to it in my estimation. Watching Councilmember Sunga say he needed more information was completely shocking. It sounded no better an excuse then what a kid gives when they have not turned in there homework. How is it that a man that gives an answer like that can even get elected? Really

Firebug   |February.04.2009 Fly-on-the-wall, As I recall Ozzy and the funded four just gave away $700,000 to Gary Mandarich which is more than Walmart ever brought in. SS, Agreeing with Hermie Sunga on anything isn't something that I would speak out about. The only thing to do with feathers and Hermie Sunga will be the addition of the tar when he is run out of office.

Fly on the Wall   |February.04.2009 SS, when will you get it? This isn't about IBEW or your union's binding arbitration. You all don't represent much of the budget and you're expendable. That's sad but true. The PSUs represent 75% of the general fund. They matter the most. It was said last night that the city could have cut $2 million/year from the fire budget two years ago and couldn't because of binding arbitration. What business do you know of that will bring us $2 million a year? WalMart only brought $500k or so a year. So you think Hermie Sunga and his Chamber pals bringing in more business will solve the problem (along with more taxes of course)? HaHaHaHaHa.

Anonymous   |February.04.2009 Hammigan and Wilson are not up for re-election until 2011, unfortunately. Hermie, however, is up in November. Mr. "I don't have enough information."

Anonymous   |February.04.2009 Street, that says it all: "I agree with Sunga."

Streetsweeper   |February.04.2009 Sorry if I ruffle a few feathers but the police contract that everyone here thinks will still sink the city was not a result of BA. The council and city staff, all of them except the two no votes, said this is a good deal. The IBEW has BA and they are not killing the city with huge wages and benifits. Since I have been with the city IBEW has lost in BA more times than the city. Also, I agree with Sunga, we need to focus on helping bussness and bringing in revenue first. I'm still seeing no urgency from council or city staff on this issue.

Long Time Vallejoan   |February.04.2009 When do Hannigan, Sunga and Wilson come up for re-election?

silasbarnabe   |February.04.2009 It is truly amusing to read from the PSU trolls here that no other Council member but Shively voted on outrageous PSU contracts. I love the continued compartmentalization logic here from the school of times horrid poster "interesting". How quick PSU's are to not mention that just last week Ozzy and the funded four just voted in a contract extension for VPOA . I am hearing more and more talk on the street that no one will support a tax and even the extension of the UUT in November is not popular in my circles because everyine I know wants relief on their cable and PG&E bills. I can't help but wonder if the timing of Wiggin's attempt to block City's from filing BK in the future isn't tied into the fact Wiggins and PSU's already know that we are about to lose millions more of revenue in the housing meltdown and when no tax is passed and the UUT is defeated in November.

waz up wid dat?   |February.04.2009 I think both Wilson and Hannigan are being "coached" from higher up sourses. Remember Hannigan's father was an assemblyman, and Wilson was married by Senator Wiggins. Both Wiggins and Evans wrote letters (did not show up of course) asking we not vote for the bankruptcy. DO NOT VOTE FOR EITHER OF THESE POLITICOS AGAIN,its because of our Vallejo votes they are in the postions they hold. With Policial Dem's like the ones we are surrounded by, it makes the Republican party look appealing...

Tina Wandasky   |February.03.2009 Word on the street has it that Mayor Davis has some personal financial problems and would really like to obtain a big fat retirement package which is the ulterior motive behind his support for a strong mayor city government system. He opposes giving the citizens the right to vote on whether to remove binding arbitration from the city charter unless it's tied to funding his retirement. Your democratic rights were blocked by the rest of the oligarchy as well. Mr. Sunga, Ms. Hannigan and Mr. Wilson (Mr. Bartee was absent from last night's City Council meeting) don't want you to be able to vote on this pressing issue. Mr. Sunga spoke his usual pablum about not having enough information even though removal of binding arbitration has been shopped all over town by a group of local petitioners. Ms. Hannigan and Mr. Wilson, on the other hand, spoke no words, none, zero, zilch. They gave absolutely no explanation for denying your participation in democracy. I noticed there's finally a hole in the new chain-link fence the city put up under the causeway. All the books are gone now. I still have my copy of the Marquis de Sade's Justine which I checked out of that homeless person's library months ago. At least I'll have a safe place to sleep.

Anonymous   |February.03.2009 Council member Gomes is the only member sitting up there that has NOT voted for one PSU contract. Shively did but saw the error of her ways and apologized. Hermie, Tom, Erin, Wilson all voted yes. Rubber stamp in your face voters. At least Oz voted his concience tonight -- kudos to the mayor!

Captain   |February.03.2009 On that note: Breaking news: Scranton police union wins raises in arbitration Published: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, February 3, 2009 7:29 PM EST An arbitrator has awarded Scranton police a string of pay raises through 2014 in a new contract that will be destined for a court appeal. Sgt. Bob Martin, police union president, praised the award as a counterweight that would bring the department in line with average police salaries statewide. Echoing a similar award for the city's firefighters in November, a divided arbitration panel granted wage increases totaling 44.8 percent beginning in 2008. Mayor Chris Doherty promised the city would challenge the award, which was finalized Monday and released today by Sgt. Martin.

On Fire   |February.03.2009 Anono, not sure who you are talking to, but I am fully aware of the history of this mess, going back almost twenty years. I know that the council signed the contracts. They signed them because the CM and finance director told them that there was a pot of gold at the end of that contract rainbow, so yes they voted on the contract/extension then. Times were better then and if the fairytale that Martinez told, had come true, then the city would be swimming in money, and there would be less screaming about the contracts. Well, we all know how that turned out. It was a big mistake, but so was the most recent contract that was signed last week. But your wrong about this all starting within the last ten years. This shipwreck was traveling for over twenty years now. You see, with BA, even if Schivley wanted to say no, and even if she had the votes, which she didn't, it would have just ended up in BA and they would have got what they wanted anyway. This is why council can have yet another excuse to be irresponsible. The contracts will never end, as long as BA is on the books. Everything in the contracts, are able to trigger BA. Being mad at one component of the problem does nothing. She at least acknowledges her mistakes, so we can only move forward. I'd rather track Martinez and Wright down and kick them around. Pointing fingers at Schivley is just what the unions want people to do. The answer to this maddness, is to take BA off the city charter. Till then, the contracts will never go away. NEVER! So we can stand around stomping our feet, or we can acknowledge history and move forward. Hope you understand that this new contract that was signed for VPOA means that BA kicks in again in 2010, even if the city is still bankrupt. And so on and so on, and so on. Hope you like the deal a whole bunch, cause you may still be looking at it in 2020 and beyond, as long as the charter stays the same.

Anonymous   |February.03.2009 Fire Bug.....I think you should re-read what NOPE said and think about it for a minute...Yes,Council members are the ones that have signed their names to the contracts that have got us into this BK mess.But lets be real honest, it wasn't ANY of the current members, EXCEPT ONE Ms.Schively. She was on the Council from 1999 through 2007 and was the ONLY ONE that voted on the extensions with raises; she is the only one that felt the ELEPHANT in the room that Ms. Gomes mentioned; she was turned down by the Employees Unions (including the Local PSU's and the Chamber, which she solicited; she never mentioned BA while she was giving in and now has the gall to speak holier than thou and accuse the Mayor and her Council colleagues, for caving in and not cleaning up the mess she helped create. Why doesn't Mr.Schussel and Mr. Garman do a non-bias review of when these give aways started and why wasn't BA requrred to be used during its first 28 years of existence and if Council's crumbled at that time, why did we not go BK before. In reality, the problems started in the late 90's (1999-2007)and now the new Councilmembers are getting the hearfor trying to undo problems they never created and still Ms. Schively wants them to do it immediately and on her say so. I hope Ms. Gomes does not get set up, as most of her ideas are good and sensible, but the apperance of teaming up with Ms. Schivley, maybe her downfall. Ms. Gomes may want to sit down with her Supervisor friend and be refreshed on how the City lost control with the former Council. At least Supervisor Kondylis doesn't throw stones and decrade her collegeauges like Ms. Schively does. It is beginning to get riducouls and regardless if BA is taken out of the Charter or not, we are still broke and the only way out is to increase revenues, while controlloing expenses. As much as I hated seeing the POA get an extension (with no raises for 2 years) I am now convinced it is a step in the right direction. The BA discussion, as important as it may be, was only a political stunt by Ms. Schively and should be declared for what it was....Sorry she completely lost me this time. What would she have done is she had gotten the Union and Chambers support in 1999??????? We will never know, but it is good arguement for exclusive limitation of terms. Serve your 8 and give someone else a chance. You can never ever turn a clock back or teach an OLD Dog new tricks.......Enough already.

Sonic Toad   |February.03.2009 Another night of disgusting corrupt Vallejo politics. Wilson and Hannigan made it crystal clear who butters their bread. And it isn't the people who live here. It's the high salaried Unions who pay for their campaigns. Perhaps if they had any skill whatsoever to be on the dais I might understand, but they don't. They apparently do not want the responsibility of running our fair city and prefer it be in the hands of others. Typical do nothing loser politicians. Sunga also made it clear who butters his bread, but as usual couldn't find the bread, the butter or even some remote instrument to go through the motions. That guy is brain dead as far as I'm concerned. If you don't have enough information to vote on binding arbitration after 42 years of it being in the charter and years of it being in the forefront of Vallejo politics then something is wrong with you. Ozzie, how sad that you are so arrogant and self centered that you won't take action unless it benefits you personally. If you think you're another Ron Dellums then perhaps you shouldn't make such a wish. Dellums is a perfect example of a failed politician with an ego so big that the realities of inexperience aren't recognized. A strong mayor with Ozzie in charge would be a disaster! Gomes and Schivley of course are out to support the "people" of Vallejo and nothing else which I applaud completely.

FLyONtHeWaLl   |February.03.2009 Thanks to all that went down to Council to speak. Remember, the Berlin wall came down one brick at a time. Then the momentum caused it all to come crashing down. Getting things done in Vallejo, always begins with one brick at a time.

On Fire   |February.03.2009 Nope, bet you were holding your breath weren't you! Pushing to have it on the ballot for Nov. was a long shot and even more so without Bartee there. (Don't forget how the union apologist have already written Sunga and Bartee off. Remember how you all bragged about the fact that they were through and you all tossed them aside? Think they haven't heard?) Just a matter of time. Our voices didn't fail, nor did a 3-3 vote say that the "people" wanted to keep it. You dream on. Just another chance to to expose the three bobble heads who are reluctant to accept responsibility. With the mayor's support, get ready to deal with change cause change is a comin' buddy boy.

Nope   |February.03.2009 3 to 3 = No Action. The council and the speakers failed to show how BA has had a negative impact on the city. BA has not been used to settle a contract in many many years. All of the contracts which allegedly caused all of the financial problems were signed by council members. Remember, when you point your finger, you point three back at yourself. So it does not sound like BA will be on the November ballot.

Anonymous   |February.03.2009 I keep hearing the Final Jeopardy song playing over and over in my head today. Bankruptcy court hearing and a vote to put binding arbitration on the ballot -- Vallejo hangs in the balance.

On Fire   |February.02.2009 Regardless what happens tomorrow in court, we have got to turn out in numbers for the City Council meeting. The next step for regaining control over our city and how our tax dollars are used, is to get rid of binding arbitration. This section of the City Charter has been held over the heads of Council for years. Just the thought of having to go to binding arbitration has caused some of our weak spined council members to use this as an excuse to cave into union demands. Those who were funded by the unions, used this to say that the city would come out spending less money dealing with the decision of an arbiter, then if we didn't have binding arbitration and the unions were to take us to court. Just recently, a law firm in San Francisco that specializes in Employment law said this: "It is important to note that high-salaried employees seeking damages may do better in arbitration than in court. Jurors, most of whom are not highly compensated professionals, maybe less sympathetic to a high-salaried executive's claims for commissions or bonus compensation, especially if that executive earns much higher wages than the jurors themselves. The other important advantage for employees who sign arbitration agreements is that arbitration service providers generally require the employer to pay all arbitration costs up front. Depending on how long the arbitration is expected to last, the employer may be out of pocket substantial fees, even if the cases settles, which relieves an employee of this substantial expenses, and also encourages employers to consider settling the case instead of potentially wasting money on arbitration with a chance to lose to an employee." It's time to put the responsibility of running our city, and how our tax dollars are spent, back into the hands of people that we can hold accountable. This type of negotiation has been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court and now there is a flood of cities/counties in other States that are trying to have this provision removed from their city/county ordinances. Why? Because it puts control over city budgets in the hands of what is supposed to be "impartial" arbiters, but we have witnessed throughout the history of Vallejo, that the decision is almost guarenteed to go to the unions and not the city. This means the taxpayers lose. Do not let our current funded council members make excuses that they can no longer justify. Show up and tell the funded four and the Oz, that they need to do their job and represent all the people of Vallejo. Put the issue on the ballot and let the people decide. Viva Vallejo!

Anonymous   |February.02.2009 The Vallejo firefighters better be careful. An example is being set on competition for firefighter jobs -- see article below -- from the local populace and for even lower salaries. Check out the Miami (Florida) story below. This is out of sheer desperation due to hard economic times. CNN picked up the story tonight, saying the starting firefighter salary in Miami is $47K a year. Maybe Vallejo City Council can learn a lesson from this...... Hundreds line up for days for Miami firefighter positions, camp out for days Monday, February 2, 2009 http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI111600/ MIAMI (WSVN) -- With the unemployment rate in South Florida rising, Miami Fire Rescue was inundated with hundreds of applications for only a few positions. Hector Mirabile, the director of employee relations at the City of Miami offered a harsh reality of the job application process. "There are 35 openings that we have," he said. "We will accept 750 qualified applications who will compete for those 35 positions." The City of Miami accepted the applications on Monday morning from hundreds of job seekers, some of whom had waited outside since Saturday to apply. By noon, there were still people in line with no guarantee to be hired. Fernando Figueroa is one of approximately a thousand people hoping for a chance to become a Miami firefighter. He stood amongst hundreds Sunday hoping to get a chance at employment. "I'm unemployed. I just got out of active duty for the Marines. I have a son. I have to pay the bills, and pretty much it's tough times," Figueroa said. Over the weekend and into Monday morning, the line wrapped around an acre of land at Miami Riverside Center and first in line stood Alex Valdez. "It's hitting really hard. People are trying to survive and people are desperate," Valdez said. Valdez said he endured an array of the elements as he waited a total of 50 hours to turn in his application. "It was freezing Saturday night, and it was raining last night, and then, during the day, it was hot," he said. Travis Miller also camped out early to apply for the job. "I really love this job, and I'm basically wiling to do anything for it at this point," he said. The unemployment rate in Florida is the highest it's been in 16 years. In Miami-Dade, the unemployment rate is at seven percent, and in Broward County just under seven percent. Both are up almost three percent since December 2007.

Robert Schussel   |February.01.2009 I meant 28%m of wages for this year not 38%.

Robert Schussel   |February.01.2009 Anonymous The big mistakes included 1) Not forcing cost sharing for health benefits ($135M unfunded liability for entire city) 2) Not reining in excessive vacation and sick leave ($29M accured for entire city) ---according to Policepay.net compensation survey Vallejo Police work fewer hours per year than those in the other comparision cities. Its even worse for Fire fighters who get 5 weeks of sick leave per year and 5 weeks vacation after 12 years . 3) Pensions (unfunded liability $84M). There is no evidence that police and fire can't do their job after age 50. In fact the City wants to hire back retired officiers to do Patrol. --the 3% at 50 costs the City at least $10,000 more per year than 2.7% @55. With Calpers rates increases the city will start to pay 34% to 40% of a FF or Police wage versus the 38% for this year. Where is the City going to get these monies without massive LAYOFFS. Our generous City Council seems to enjoy giving away other peoples money.And in most instances by the time they leave office someone else has to clean up the mess they created. Unfortunately this time the housing market/economy imploded and prior shell games will no longer work--Vallejo's Ponzi scheme ran out of new cash.

Streetsweeper   |February.01.2009 On fire, thanks I hope this whole mess could come to some type of end so we can just work without all the stress. Not sure what our leadership will do or how long it will be before we are out like PD. One of my union reps said our team is meeting with the city tomorrow but I'm not real optimistic.

On Fire   |February.01.2009 Street Sweeper, I hope things work out for you. I would only say that you need to pay attention and ask questions of your union leadership. Hopefully the other two contracts will be settled, without our funded council making more promises they can't keep. I'd rather see more money going to public works employees and those that have to keep city hall going. Those two areas are going to be what we need in order to convince new businesses we are worth looking at. If our city's infrastructure and streets aren't fixed, potential investors will turn around after hitting several potholes and having no one to assist them when they show up in the planning department or economic development.

Streetsweeper   |February.01.2009 Well looks like the judge or arbitrator will figure out how much pain we get. Also, if the city is going to layoff people why are do they continue to hire people into our union? Why is it they continue to use contractors and not cut them loose? We are cut to the bone any further cuts for us and we will have nobody to answer the 911 calls or keep water flowing to the city. Maybe we could turn the lights out in the city at night to save money. Wonder what our PGE bill is every month?

On Fire   |February.01.2009 Street Sweeper, the difference between us and the PSU's is that they used smoke and mirrors to make the numbers come out the way they wanted. They could not provide any real basis for their scare tactics. We have accountants, bankruptcy attorneys, the City's finance director, and every news service in the country that reports about the country's economic forecast that tells us that it is going to get worse, a lot worse before it gets better. The funded council has the same data available to them but they choose to keep those details under wraps and not deal in realities. It's like hearing a tornado watch and continuing to go outside, thinking that you will not be hit. Then you hear the sirens going off and there is a tornado warning, yet still sit out in the open, and figure you will take your chances. What we are saying, is don't take the risk. Hunker down and be prepared. You use rations conservatively and make sure you can survive after the storm hits. The window for making deals to have everyone pay their share of medical costs has come and gone. The rest of the 10 million dollar deficit will come from the bargaining units that are left. Time to hunker down Street Sweeper. Too late to run.

Down the tube   |February.01.2009 Streetsweeper Its more than healthcare. Its seems highly likely that the City will have to layoff 50 to 100 minimum to survive. Remember revenues will decline by 10 to 15% and costs such as healthcare,pensionsand wages etc will go up by 15 to 20% even with concessions. ASK Robert Stout for the truth. Haven't you wondered why none of the booble heads wanted 2010 thru 2012 projections. They don't want everyone to know how bad it is. Wilson is a CFO--don't you think he understands. This is not gloom and doom ,but rather the sad reality of what the PSU and incompetent City Councils have dealt this City.

Anonymous   |February.01.2009 Ahhhh, but Street, Gomes said ALL employees should pay part of their health care (including Council). That was one of the main reasons she and Joanne didn't vote for VPOA contract. Does that give the other groups a free health care ride, too? I hope not. Health care is critical to controlling costs. Giving that to the cops was a huge mistake.

Streetsweeper   |February.01.2009 Wow, you guys are as bad as the PSU with the scare tactics and gloom and doom. My sources are telling me the big hang up with IBEW is health care now because the cops, council, dept heads don't have to pay squat. I'll vote to pay for health care but only if everyone pays. I mean that's fair right? Even Gomes said it would not be fair to have second class employees when it comes to health care.

histprian   |February.01.2009 Vallejo... The furthest west, furthest south abandoned rust belt industrial city in the country.

On Fire   |February.01.2009 Street Sweeper, the longer the unions draw this out, the faster the city will run out of all money to operate. The Govenor has issued mandated layoffs for State employees because we haven't been able to come up with a budget. This city will lay off everyone except essestial services if we run out of money. The judge will not let the unions to continue to file appeals without making some decisions. So if by Tuesday morning, there is no tenative settlement offer on the table, it may mean he opens the contracts and makes a ruling. We shall see. Maybe Tanner does what ozzy said, and lays off everyone except police. Who knows. One thing for sure, the country lost almost 150,000 jobs just this week. Let me repeat, JUST THIS WEEK. I'm sure that some of our citizens are in those numbers. If they need non-union workers to do some contracted work while you all are carrying signs in front of city hall, there will be plenty of people willing to cross those lines and take your jobs. Your choice.

Pyriphlegethon   |February.01.2009 SS, be careful what you wish for. With the economy the way it is, the City could easily do an "Air Traffic Controller" move like Reagan. It makes me ill to think I now understand and see the value of what Ronnie did. Our council should have done that with the PSU. IBEW is much more expendible so just be careful...

Streetsweeper   |February.01.2009 The mayor not checking his e-mail was lame. I think everyone knows the mayor and council kept police deal quite then rushed it through. Now they will try to screw the other unions. I bet the judge has already made up his mind on the contracts. If the city bankruptcy attorney is right and binding arbitration is used to settle new contracts how long will that take? Don't both sides have to reach impass before binding arbitration is used? Also, if binding arbitration is removed can the IBEW go on strike since there is no state law stopping them?

On Fire   |February.01.2009 So ozzy thinks that we should open up our wallets and give him some more money to give away to developers and pay for contracts that even a tax increase this year, won't help in 2011? All the while he runs around the country, trying to be somebody, neglecting to even bother to open, much less read, concerns about one of the biggest decisions he's about to make! Like we don't know he has a secretary, and that he can access his email while away from the office. Okay, so let's make a deal ozzy. You put and support BA on the ballot along with your beggar tax, and you get the funded four to fully support it, and maybe we will consider giving up some more of our hard earned tax dollars to pay for services OTHER THAN than public safety. You want to be a strong mayor, then you figure out where to get the revenues to fund your beloved projects. How about that ozzy?

Pyriphlegethon   |February.01.2009 A Street Sweeper can use a BlackBerry but our mayor can't. Sweeper for mayor in 2011!

Pyriphlegethon   |February.01.2009 Osby was telling people last week that we will be paying for increased cost with a "public safety tax". Oh, yeah? Says who? Try getting the voters to agree to it. Because you'll need one. Thank you, Fire Bug for that excellent link in the Jan Scream!

Streetsweeper   |February.01.2009 How much money would it cost to put BA on the ballot? Why not just use bankruptcy when you need contract changes, it only costs a few million. Oh, sorry if my whole life does not revolve around this site but I do have other interests like the superbowl today. Also, I along with millions of others can use a blackberry or other cell phone devices to check email or stocks and maybe blog sites.

On Fire   |February.01.2009 Interesting that they would put the matter of BA on the agenda the same day that the city is due back in court for the bankruptcy hearings. So if IAFF and IBEW don't have a tentative agreement by Tuesday, and the court opens the contracts, the city would be in the position to use a charter amendment as a leverage tool? The unions say that they need BA to deal with the city trying to take away their goodies. The city now says they need a court to deal with the unions, who want to take away the citizen's goodies . It appears that the city's "decision maker" is the big guns that was needed to persuade the unions to come up with a deal. They were able to do so without BA. So it now seems that the city and unions have proven the point that we no longer need BA, just a mediator to go over the facts and help make the decisions. Which is exactly what the Citizens For Vallejo proposed on their petition. So what argument could funded council possibly come up with to vote against removing it, other than their promise to the unions for their support? The time is now, to remove BA from the Charter and put it to the voters to decide. If the voters think it is still needed, so be it. The PSU apologists are now saying they love Tanner, and have faith that the city's consultant will work out the other contracts before Tuesday. So with the contract negotiations out of the way, this would no longer be an impediment toward that goal. With that being over and done with, this is a great time for Council to have BA removed, as something that is no longer needed.

silasbarnabe   |February.01.2009 The strange thing about the bought council's comments concerning the cost of putting BA on the ballot is that if they ask the voters to pass a tax it could also be put on the ballot at the same time.

Anonymous   |February.01.2009 Banks Sought Foreign Workers As System Crashed http://www.cnbc.com/id/28963919 Major U.S. banks sought government permission to bring thousands of foreign workers into the country for high-paying jobs even as the system was melting down last year and Americans were getting laid off, according to an Associated Press review of visa applications. The dozen banks now receiving the biggest rescue packages, totaling more than $150 billion, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign workers over the past six years for positions that included senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the median income for all American households. As the economic collapse worsened last year - with huge numbers of bank employees laid off - the numbers of visas sought by the dozen banks in AP's analysis increased by nearly one-third, from 3,258 in the 2007 budget year to 4,163 in fiscal 2008. The AP reviewed visa applications the banks filed with the Labor Department under the H-1B visa program, which allows temporary employment of foreign workers in specialized-skill and advanced-degree positions.

Anonymous   |February.01.2009 At the meeting a couple of weeks ago, Joanne and Stephanie asked to have binding arbitration agendized. Wilson made some lame comment that he hoped they weren't agendizing something that would be legally problematic. Hint: he won't support it. Which means Erin won't support it. And Hermie said last week on the VPOA vote that it woul cost the city too much to put binding arbitration on the ballot.

Fed Up   |February.01.2009 Hey Street Sweeper, I quess it is not Monday through Friday, so you don't have the time on your off hours to respond bi-hourly like you do during the workweek when the taxpayer pays your salary.

Fed Up   |February.01.2009 And I also agree with Pyro---our mayor too busy to review his emails about the most important decision to hit the Vallejo City Council in 20 years!!!!!@!

Fed Up   |February.01.2009 My question to Bob McConnell is this: Our city council basically signed a blank check to cover legal fees for the Police Union last Tuesday. Where do you think our governing bodies are going to slide in tax increases that do not involve agreement by a public vote? Because right now, I am seeming single family homes for sale in Vallejo for $80K-----too good to be true!! There has got to be a back side hit!

Pyriphlegethon   |February.01.2009 I don't know if there are any consequences, but Ozzy proved he thinks he's King last Tuesday. On one of the most important votes during his tenure and one that will have the MOST impact on this godforsaken town (where's Ennio Marcone?) he quite clearly shows how much respect he has for his constituents (NADA, NONE, ZILCH) when--clearly annoyed by Shivley's request that he announce how many emails and letters he got--said he didn't have time to read them, too busy in DC. He should take a clue from Obama and get a BlackBerry!

Anonymous   |February.01.2009 Does anyone know if an email to our elected officials is considered the same as a snail mail letter in terms of official communication? Thanks

Sonic Toad   |February.01.2009 Are any of the letters we're writing being acknowledged by the Mayor as is supposed to happen in the written communications section of the council meeting? If not, what is the consequence?

Fed Up   |February.01.2009 I would like to thank JoAnne also for bringing binding arbitration to the public discussion table. It will be really interesting to hear the "funded four," commentary on how binding arbitration helps? Vallejo.

John K   |February.01.2009 Tuesday Feb 3 Agenda Thanks to Joanne Schivley, the City Council Meeting Agenda for February 3 includes a discussion and determination of whether to direct the City Attorney to prepare a proposed City Charter amendment to eliminate binding arbitration from the Charter and to direct the City Manager to "meet and confer" with appropriate union groups. I believe the Council has the power to put this on the ballot and I've written to the Mayor and Council Members and requested them to do so. Thank You Joanne!

admin   |January.31.2009 It's that time again! January was a great month for screams. Keep it going! Plenty to scream about I'd say...