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Here in California’s River City, we feel your pain, burrrrrrr
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Category Archives: Sacrametno
Arden Fair Mayhem (Social Media Edition)
Some Policemen and Mall owners have said, The 26th of December the day after Christmas seems to be the one of the most violent days in America’s malls. People are pent up from being with their family,”
Closed schools, social media, the mall and juveniles with nothing to do? Can be combustible mix. The victims: the stores mall owners and terrified shoppers.
Shopping malls have long replaced Downtown’s as a social gathering place for teenagers. If its often the place where boys and girls meet for the first time. It is also the place to settle scores.
For two days, shoppers at Arden Fair Mall, one of the largest malls in the Sacramento Area was terrorized by out of control juveniles in and outside the mall resulting in damages inside the mall and patrons cars in the mall parking lots.
There were many violent events involving juveniles last week in shopping malls across the country.
Some malls across the country have instituted a “Parental escort policy” that requires teens under the age of 18 to be with a parent or guardian who is 21 or over to enter. Most of the shopping centers have these restrictions only on weekend evenings, but some keep them in place seven days a week.
The “Parental escort policy” used at Shopping Malls in other states may be at odds with California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act that specifically outlaws discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, or sexual orientation.
Gen Z
Generation Z (individuals born between 1995 and 2009) spend nearly 50 billion dollars a year and unlike Millennial’s,Gen Z prefer traditional shopping in stores. Should Arden Fair place a ban on this group they may simply take their dollars to other area Malls.
Social Media and Pandemonium
Before cell phones and social media. some one would make a couple of calls and tell others there is gonna a fight at 14th and Broadway. Within minutes, nearly a hundred juvenilles show up at 14th and Broadway to witness the fight. A prankster might push one juvenile into another juvenile and another fight take place. A mistaken punch, another fight with spectators becoming participants.
Today, with social media, a single post can reach hundreds with in minutes.
By all accounts, the security at Arden Fair was overwhelmed.
Anticipation
One example of a prepared Mall
Cherry Hills, New Jersey is a suburb of Philadelphia.
On Dec 27 2017, Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey, noticed more teenagers in the mall than usual. A week before, Police Chief William “Bud” Monaghan appealed to parents not to leave their teenage children unattended at the mall. The Police Department and mall management had jointly prepared for trouble, often sparked by social media organization. that they had seen in previous years at the mall.
The Police and mall owners had several meetings to discuss how to handle such situations. The police department assigned additional officers to the mall and the mall added additional Security Guards.
Police said between 700 and 1,000 juveniles were milling in the evening near the food court hen disturbances broke out. One fight became several. In the past, there had been many disruptions and damage to the mall. But police and mall security officers, anticipating trouble this time of year, were present in large numbers, and the teens were quickly corralled. There was no widespread vandalism and only minimal disruption for shoppers, authorities said Wednesday as merchants lifted their gates for the start of another day of business.
Security and local police departments in many malls, monitor activity on social media. Adding extra security and police during holidays.
CityFella
“Heck” No To Sacramento’s Measure U
In the fall of 2012, citizens approved Measure U a temporary half cent sales tax increase. Sacramento ,like the rest of the country was hit hard by Financial Crises of 2007-2008 . Fire Stations, Libraries, Community centers closed all over the city. There were layoffs in every department including Fire and police. Income from this tax hike would used to shore up police, libraries and other services throughout the city. A temporary tax increase that would end in March 2019
The tax increased concerned business leaders back in 2012.
The Sacramento Metro Chamber reminded city council couldn’t resolve its budget’s structural imbalance even when it had healthy coffers, pre-2008, so why should it be entrusted with millions now, especially during a struggling economy?
“I don’t have confidence that the money will necessarily be spent wisely,” The sales-tax boost will take leaders’ “eyes off the ball” when it comes to making government more efficient and effective.
Sacramento Developer, Mike Heller
2018
Sacramento’s and tax based has grown significantly and Sacramento still cant manage its finances. Somethings wrong in City Hall
During the lean years, hundred of thousands was spent on Consultants to Retain the Sacramento Kings.
The City has recently issued $240 million dollars in bonds towards an unprofitable Convention Center which has been a drain on the city for more than twenty years.
Darrell Steinberg wants a tax increase that will have a negative impact on the city’s poor. Business may suffer as the Sacramento will have the highest Sales Tax in the region.
While City leaders say the money will go towards Police, other core departments. The language isn’t there. There isn’t a mandate that says how the money is to be spent.
Don’t give Darrell Steinberg and city leaders A Blank Check.
Insist they live as we do, within our means !
SAY HECK NO TO MEASURE U
Rent Control Sacramento: The City offers a Bandaid to slow the bleeding
Sacramento is the fastest growing big city in the State of California. The capital city has seen a 9.4 increase in rent, three times higher than the national average and double the states average.
With rents averaging $1700, the Capital city has become an attractive and lower cost alternative to renters in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County. The city has become popular with Millennials. Sacramento, is the third most popular destination after Seattle and Nashville.
The new arrivals aren’t challenged by the rent prices
In Sacramento, fewer landlord are offering yearly leases ,opting for month to month agreements where they can increase rents with a 30 notice. Many long term renters have experienced several rent increases this year. After 16 years in a South Land Park Apartment, one tenant received 3 rent increases in less then seven months. Her dishwasher and disposal hasn’t worked in more than two year. Today her rent is 62% of her income and she is not alone. Sacramento’s eviction rate is more than twice the state average.
Fast Facts
Don’t believe the Hype, not everyone is leaving California for Texas, Nevada, Oregon and Arizona, the state’s population continues to grow. Nearly 40 million people call the Golden State Home. There is a housing shortage in most population centers in state with Sacramento being one of the worst in the nation. According to Yardi matrix , Sacramento ranked 90 of the 96 markets. While Sacramento needs 2700 units annually to meet demand, only 593 apartments were completed in 2017.
While there has always been a need for affordable housing, the city eased requirements shortly after the Real Estate bubble burst and reduced funding for the program.
The Basic Myth
Rent control will stop construction on new housing units……..
In most cities in California, (including Sacramento) apartment construction are at record levels. Even in cities with existing rent control laws. Developers set the rent on new developments, once occupied, the cities rent controls would apply.
Passage of Proposition 10 in November would allow California cities to place rent controls on new development.
(If the developer cant make a viable profit they may choose not to build.)
Tenants will not leave their rent control apartments, resulting in an shortages.
The objective data, doesn’t support this.
Sacramento’s
It very clear, Sacramento’s Mayor Darrell Steinberg’s and some members of the city council do not support any form of rent control. His support of temporary measures disappointed many attending the rent control workshop last night.
Steinberg: “I do not favor permanent rent control in our city,” “I believe building more affordable housing is the best way to stabilize rents.
Funding for affordable housing may take 7 to 10 years. The reality for his constituents is they needed rent relief yesterday. They needed relief the first hour he took office.
(Government: I want you to know we understand what your going through, needing shelter from the rain. Currently there isn’t funding for umbrellas. I have instructed my has been instructed to locate funding. Finding a source may take some time, but I assure you we will make this a top Priority. After a few necessary meetings with governmental agencies, we should get funding for that umbrella you clearly need in two years, nine years tops! )
Mayor Steinberg, supports a cap of 5% on annual rent increases that would expire after three years. The cap, would apply to apartments older than 20 years.
This is a slap in the face for renters in the city. He has excluding more than a few thousand apartments units, built during Sacramento’s last building boom between the late nineties to 2007. What happens to rents after the cap expires?
Council members Steve Hansen, Eric Guerra and Rick Jennings suggested mediation be available to tenants if a landlord attempted to raise the rent by more than 6 percent. Their plan would also make it mandatory for landlords with more than five units to offer 18-month leases, which Jennings said isn’t as extreme as rent control and would help stabilize rental rates.“ According to their proposal, if a tenant who receives a rent increase of more than 6 percent within a 12-month period requests mediation, they must still pay rent, plus the 6 percent increase, until the dispute is resolved.
Mediation? Rent control let talk about it? This proposal is completely absurd!
This was clearly written by individuals who a have close ties with developers or own property in the city. Rent control isn’t a new language, there isn’t a code to crack. Not only is there several resources available members of their staff could make calls to cities along I-80 as Richmond, Berkeley and San Francisco have rent control legislation in place. There is nothing ambiguous in those cities agreements. In San Francisco, rent increases are limited to 6% a year* no meetings, the landowner would need to get permission from the city to increase rents beyond the cap. (* The landlord can exceed the cap if capital improvements are required)
Sacramento currently needs 2700 units of new housing annually. In time, the demand will only increase. The city’s homeless population is growing by the hour. Sacramento has joined, San Jose, San Francisco and many other cities with employed individuals living in their cars, camping in our parks, because they cant afford housing. According to the Sacramento County Coroner’s office, in 2016, 78 homeless people died within the county. But in 2017, 124 people died: an increase of more than 150%. One homeless person dies every three days.
This issue of housing and homelessness isn’t just a Sacramento problem its a national problem. Its a national disgrace. Ignored until it overwhelms.
The primary issue isn’t rent in the the new developments in Sacramento. It is the exorbitant rent increases renters are experiencing all over the city. Long term tenants are facing rent increases because the landlord can. Resulting in fear, insecurity, and helplessness.
Proposition 10, may not be the answer to the state’s housing shortage. It is an reaction, to the inaction of local government . The noise generated by the renters of Sacramento have forced Mayor Steinberg and company to look at rent control. Their proposed fixes won’t slow the bleeding Sacramento.
A genuine approach would be an ordinance that would immediately cap all rent increases to 6% city wide. An ordinance that would prevent evictions without cause. (which would prevent landowner from evicting tenants to circumventing the law)
Tax incentives to those developers that include market rate housing in their projects. Incentives to developers who add housing to their projects throughout these adding additional intensives for developer to build near light rail stations. These projects could be managed thorough Sacramento’s Housing Authority. Returning to reality, none of these are likely to happen.
Renters of Sacramento,will have to make rent control a part of law. There is no need to have to re-invent the wheel as several templates There are rent control advocates in the State that will participate in penning the law.
CityFella
The Real Housewives of New York S10 ep17 “Ship Happens”
This was a real Shit show, literally, figuratively and emotionally……Dorinda Medley
The Trip from Hell!
Piss, Tears, Vomit, and Diarrhea
The New York Housewives are always news. This episode, taped last February was the real deal . While vacationing on an island in Columbia, the ladies were told they had to leave immediately, some leaving their personal effects. The water was dangerously choppy and things were flying off the boat. Filming was halted. At one point the engine caught on fire. Apparently the boats anchor came off and got caught overloading the engine. Shipmates had to saw the chain to free the ship and keep the boat from capsizing. Add to this disaster (which could be a TV movie) they could only locate two life vests. Four of the six women came home with a parasite. Carole Razidwill believes it was from the fish they ate. Tinsely and Bethenny are allergic to fish,and didn’t have the fish. Nearly all the ladies had various forms of diarrhea.
The final shot of the ladies leaving Columbia, was of a housekeeper washing down a mattress…. (oh Bravo)
Ship Happens
This could be one of those episodes that you have to watch several times. I’m not ready to call it Iconic, but its damm close.
After years of terrific vacations this one was from hell.
Its the morning after. The ladies have gotten used to the never ending Bethenny and Carole show. The talk is about the other close friendship of Luann and Dorinda. We know the east side gangsta (Lady M) can go long and deep. (especially after a few drinks) But not with Luann. But its another day, they’ve slept. Lu is talking about the night before and when Dorinda arrives, she is on! Another round of attacks. When Bethenny and tries to calm Dorinda, Dorinda tells Bethenny to back off! Ramona, attempts to cool Luann. When Carole enters the fray, Bethenny attacks Carole and were off. Tinsley considers cancelling the boat ride but they have done her hair. (she has this thing about braids)
Is it the Sacramento heat or is Sonja Tremont Morgan the voice of reason, this season?
She predicted this day would get worse.
Dorinda admits to Bethenny she went deep and nasty on Luann and is very remorseful. Carole later encourages Dorinda to Luann to talk privately.
The two hash it out and its love and kisses. However, due to the personal attacks, Luann is forgiving today.
Someone who should have had a private discussion is Bethenny, who is talking to the group at breakfast about Carole. She is so involved in telling this story that she doesn’t noticed what everyone else has, that Carole has entered the room or did she?
On the island, they let loose. Finally, the ladies we love are finally having fun, enjoying themselves. Luann finds a dead crab and decided to prank Ramona. In the hammock, she drops the dead crab on Ramona’s chest, her screams could be heard in Peoria Illinois. (Well played Countess)
Sonja, who is always the life of the party, didn’t disappoint. She shared her finest with Columbia and left the price tag on the bikini for………
The island visit ended abruptly. Everyone had to leave. On the boat, a drunken Sonja argued with a drunken and delusional Tinsley about how unusual and choppy the boat ride was. “Why would you bring us on that boat?” Tinsley who was insisting the boat ride was nothing uncommon. Tinsley was simply trying to save what has been a terrible vacation. “This is no fucking joke. This is like taking an airplane with one fucking propeller!” Sonja screamed! as she was clinging to Ramona “I just peed my pants!
“ There was real fear and panic with the women. Dorinda said she smelled smoke and said the boat was taking on water . Carole was vomiting . Bethenny asked ” Why is there a siren?” and the screen went black.
“The production crew had to shut down due to rough waters and the safety of everyone on board” (Bravo)
Back in Cartegena,there is peace. The ladies are in the house, ready to return to NYC.
Bethenny, “When we left that island we got on the boat from hell,”
Luann, “We all thought we were going to die it seemed,” “And I’m just holding myself on the ground, praying this boat doesn’t capsize.”
Carole, “I worked as a foreign correspondent during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, said of her experience overseas: “It was nothing compared to what happened on that boat.”
CityFella
What are your thought about the trip? Luann and Dorinda?
Early Morning Flight out of Sacramento International Airport? Plan Ahead!
For years, flying out of Sacramento International was simple. There was no reason to show up a couple of hours ahead. The traffic WAS minimal. Well that was so 2016.
For years, there were few non stops east of Denver. Today there are non stops to Charlotte, Orlando, Newark and Houston. Southwest plans non stops to New Orleans and Alaska just announced a flight between Sac and Kona Hawaii, this winter. The result is more traffic . .
More than a million travelers flew in and out of Sacramento in May. Air Canada returned to SMF with flights to Vancouver. Frontier returns in August .
If you have a flight that depart before 6:45am leave early,. With only two northbound lanes on I-5 the traffic backup begin about 4:30am. Sometimes beyond the 99 split. over three miles from the airport.
Once in the airport, parking and shuttle are very efficient. However, if you are traveling through terminal A, (which is currently under constructuion) again plan ahead. The Terminal was constructed before 9/11 and the early morning security lines are the longest in the airport with lines often backing up over the bridge that connects the terminal with the parking garage.
A fix is on the way, and should be completed by next year. The airport has advised early morning travelers on United, American, Delta to arrive two hours ahead.
Travelers with flights departing between 8am and 6pm should not have any delays, with security waits average less than 20 minutes*
Sacramento International Airport remains one of the easiest airport to travel in and out .
The current bottle neck is an easy fix by simply increasing the number of lanes entering the airport from one to two.
*as of this date
CityFella
what if he wants to die?
My neighbor approached me yesterday about a neighbor who is in his eighties. He wants to die she said. he leaves his door open, he is not eating, his friend is doing everything for him, but he wants to die. He’s not doing well, he can’t walk without falling down. I don’t know what to do? I don’t know his family or who to call? I thought of you because you seem to know about situations like this.
I told her I would make a few calls. Perhaps there is an city or county agency that would make a welfare check. I told her I would call later in the afternoon.
I overslept.
My neighbor came up to my apartment, she was dejected and I could smell alcohol on her breath. She said, called the management of the apartment complex, she said they were angry that she called. The called the city and various agency. He was in the Korean war so being a vet, she called the Veterans Administration and they told her, let him die! (I’m not convinced they said that ) I saw the tears in her eyes, I wanted to hug her, but didnt for some reason. I told her I am lucky to have a caring neighbor like her in the complex.
As I closed the door to my apartment, I thought to myself. Do we have the right to prevent a person who wants to die, to die?
I knew two people who committed suicide. I clearly remember wondering if I could have made a difference, prevented them from killing himself. Next response was anger and resentment, how cruel and selfish they were. People loved them, friends family and in one case children, they should have talked to someone! Told someone! sought help. Their choice of suicide will cause a great deal of pain and we will live with this stain of this selfish act !
I cherish life, I love it and think I am blessed every single day, but that is me!
I have no idea of the pain these individuals have, their suffering. How unbearable it might be for them, day to day, even living in my world.
Maybe its us who are cruel and selfish ones. We insist they live a life of misery and despair for us. We insist they hang in there with the endless needles and evasive procedures for us.
We ignore them and get angry hen they say their tired. We insist they trust god, when they simply want to go home.
Some of us demand that our love ones live a life of pain. We pray, we want them to want to live. For Us.
My neighbor was in his early eighties, he lived longer than both of his sons. Last year was an horrendous year for him. His beloved small white dog was snatched out of his arms and killed by another dog in front of him. He is a fixture in the apartment complex.
With his rapidly deteriorating health, I’m not sure I would want to live. My options would be very few and I wouldn’t want to be a burden on my friends and children.
“What if I want to die? Am I obligated to live for friends and family?
Cityfella
