Archive by Author

“Hostile” City of Chico mismanages the airport

20 Feb

For a few years now (since 2008) an item has popped up so regularly on the city council “closed session” agendas that I have come to recognize it without knowing anything about it.

2.1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — EXISTING LITIGATION: The City Attorney will review
the following: Danford A. Jay and Sandra R. Jay v. City of Chico, et al., Butte County Superior Court
Cases 145202 and 145203, pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(a).

It started to pique my curiosity, but I didn’t know how to find out about it. I figured, since it’s on the closed session item, they wouldn’t be exactly eager to discuss it with me, and you know, I get tired of being led a merry chase down at the City of Chico.

So, I finally stumbled onto the info, you know, casual conversation with some parent at a playground, that’s how I find out stuff around town.  I mean, it’s just amazing the people you find yourself chatting with, about what.

It seems this all relates to Chico’s abysmal reputation for being “hostile” toward business.

I’ve sat in at least two different Economic Development meetings in which the main topic of discussion was the airport. At one meeting, a couple of consultants complained that the airport does not offer consistent enough “service” for corporate types to fly to Chico to snoop out our job-ability. They didn’t explain it, they just said, these big-wigs want to be able to fly in and out at their convenience, and that’s not doable at Chico airport.

At another more recent meeting, a spokesman from Build.com said the airport needs a big commercial carrier. He seems to think we can turn our airport into the same kind of behemoth  as the Sacramento Airport, bring in TWA – wowsers! He mentioned regular flights to Disneyland as his main concern – what does Disneyland have to do with bringing job-makers into Chico?

No, no, no. It’s not lack of a commercial carrier, it’s lack of somewhere for really important people to land their own jets. I got news for Mr. Build.com – real employers don’t stand in lines to take a commercial carrier, they fly in with their own plane at 10 am and they fly out at 4pm. The don’t use giant, overrun airports, they use little executive airports unconstrained by heavy traffic and avoiding major accidents involving housing tracts. Chico Airport should be perfect for exactly this use.

Yes, it should be. Chico Airport is equipped with a special landing strip with a gated terminal, just for really important people. You might remember, Oprah landed at that gate. She was whisked away to Oroville to meet and interview a local beauty queen, and then within a couple of hours, there she went.

But, for some reason, when Governor Schwarzenegger came to town a few years ago, nobody came to open the gate to the terminal. Schwarzenegger was left outside a locked gate. This was sufficient to  make a laughingstock out of Chico Airport.  It’s happened more than once, and it’s apparently turned away big execs looking for prime employment territory.

The special terminal is owned by a local couple, Chris and Maria Rock, who have a special contract with the city of Chico to operate the terminal and an airplane fueling station. When a “special” visitor is headed for the airport, they are supposed to contact the Rocks, who are supposed to have that terminal open and functioning. Apparently the Rocks are pretty lackadaisical about their duties and more than one person has arrived to find a gate locked.

Enter Danford Jay.  Mr. Jay wants to be licensed to operate such a terminal himself. He operates a business out of the airport and his livelihood depends on the airport running efficiently. Apparently Mr. Jay is tired of watching the Rocks run business away from Chico.

But the City of Chico protects the Rocks’ contract for some reason, they won’t let Mr. Jay have a permit to operate his own terminal and fueling station. According to my source, this drives people to the airports at Redding and Oroville. My friend is himself considering moving his business and the 25 people it employs to the Redding airport.

This friend has been to meeting after meeting, in Chico, in Oroville, in Redding. He uses the word “hostile” to describe the city of Chico, and particularly, Dave Burkland.

Dave Burkland is not only our city manager, he’s the airport manager.  That’s why his salary is so  high – I’ve seen the breakdown – he gets separate salaries for all these jobs that should just be handed to different, hopefully more competent people. This is how the city “saves money.” And this is how Burkland will retire at over $120,000 a year soon.

And this is why our airport drives jobs away from Chico.

Meanwhile the city’s little protection racket racks up the bucks in court:

http://www.buttecourt.ca.gov/online_index/CMSCaseDisplay.cfm?ucn=145202&sx=1088450740381968

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Blowing money out their patoot, Part II

18 Feb

I am a woman of many moods. People who’ve known me a long time say they’ve watched me turn from a liberal to a conservative. I hate labels – those feelings have been mixed up inside of me for years, and I’ve followed one party or another because I thought they were expressing the same feelings. Over the years, I’ve realized, you can’t trust any big political party, and the bigger politics get, the less effect the common person will have.

So when Planning Commissioner and long-time gadfly Jon Luvass brought forward a “discussion” of “corporate personhood,” I was conflicted. Yes, I think “corporate personhood,” as explained to me by Ralph Nader about 1993, is bad.

“Corporate personhood” came from a legislative decision made decades ago – about 100 years ago? –  that gave corporations “human rights.”  Boiled down, this means, they can scream “harrassment” if you go after them for say, coloring the stream that runs through your town with toxic waste, or turning the air over your city into soot soup. It gives them all kinds of protections they don’t deserve, and it’s caused us a lot of problems in holding them to the laws that you and I must obey.

If you want a better explanation about this, go to www.nader.org/ – Ralph has been hashing issues like this for years, that’s why I have voted for him in every presidential election ever since 1992. 

Meanwhile, Jon Luvass has supported MoveOn.org and the Democratic Party. Hmmmm.

What Luvass, prodded forward by Ann Schwab and Linda Furr and who knows who else,  brought to the Internal Affairs Committee last week was not a discussion about “corporate personhood” but their own hypocritical diatribe on campaign spending. 

Our election process, he says, are being “swung” by “big big money.”

This is where I find Luvass disingenuous. This is a guy who has supported MoveOn.org since it was created, going to the first MoveOn convention and then holding a party at his co-housing community to spread the word. Luvass has also long been one of the stinking heads of the Esplanade League stinking fish, the Super PAC of the liberals. He’s closely connected to Dave Guzzetti’s “Chico Democrats,” which by the way, has nothing to do with Democracy.

Luvass had the nerve to ramble on about how these evil PACS – not his, see – are ruining Democracy. “This is a matter of money speaking louder than the mouths of human beings…” but, “I’m not talking about corporations in general (like the Esplanade League), but ‘MAJOR’ corporations…”

Well, that’s real pretty Jon, but it doesn’t carry much weight coming from a guy who bought his way onto the Planning Commission with the single largest donation allowed in a Chico City Council race.  Yep, Luvass gave Maureen Kirk $950, just short of the $1000 maximum, in the campaign directly leading to her appointing him as Planning Commissioner. 

Yes Jon, that looks really bad, especially given the fact that you had no qualifications whatsoever and didn’t even read the city code until I pointed that out to you a good eight months into the job.

Luvass acts as though butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, but he and his friends are also quick to call in their big guns when they really need money  – the California nurses union and the SEIU were the biggest contributors to the campaign against Measure A, and they both waited until the last quarter to donate so they wouldn’t have to disclose until AFTER THE ELECTION. Same with the Esplanade League, which also refuses to disclose just  exactly where it’s money comes from.

I saw Nancy Pelosi on PBS’s MacNeil Report the other night, railing about how the Republicans’ Super PACS are just ruining life as we know it. Reporter Judy Woodruff pointed out that Obama will be going with a Super PAC. Pelosi, looking like one of those apple-head puppets, croaked back that Obama’s money is DIFFERENT!  He discloses! Yeah, just like the Chico Democrats and the Esplanade League – we won’t find out whose fist is up Obama’s ass until he’s already made his inaugural address.

So, Jon, Ann, Linda – you can save your bullshit for those ignoramuses who would listen to you.  Nobody believes you are sincere in limiting campaign money, and this “corporate personhood” discussion is just more of your whitewash.

Meanwhile, council turns a deaf ear to my request to agendize a discussion of how a tax increase measure can get on the ballot WITHOUT one shred of support from the community.  Yes, five of them can contrive to shove it on the ballot without a petition. 

Please write to council and ask them to agendize my request for a public discussion of how a tax increase measure gets on our local ballot. I’ve written a formal request to the clerk’s office, and already one member of council has answered back that he won’t discuss it until Lando comes forward with his proposal. I told this council member, I’M NOT ASKING FOR A DISCUSSION OF LANDO’S PROPOSAL. I’m asking for a discussion of HOW ANY TAX INCREASE PROPOSAL CAN GET ON THE LOCAL BALLOT. 

If they can sit around for two hours masturbating themselves with this kind of crap, they can agendize my request.

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Fun and games on your dime

15 Feb

You may have read that the City of Chico Internal Affairs committee yesterday refused to recommend a Downtown smoking ban.  What you didn’t read was that they spent almost an hour and a half  leading the cancer folks on as though they might consider it.

An hour and a half of $taff time, mulling over almost identical $taff reports regarding two almost identical items (see my previous post):

https://chicotaxpayers.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/sitting-with-the-circle-of-jerks-down-at-city-hall/

The room was packed with supporters of two proposed smoking bans – one a comprehensive ban of smoking almost anywhere Downtown. The other, a redundant ban that also includes all of Bidwell Park.  There was not a full committee present – Holcombe already seems to be making his way toward the exit.

Chair Jim Walker and third leg Bob Evans made it clear from the get-go that they would probably not recommend either ban. One of the proponents actually said they already knew they wouldn’t get Item A, and most had come to address Item B. But, Walker proceeded to ask for comments regarding Item A, and took up a good half hour on it.  At one point Walker actually used the words “convince me,” even though he had made it clear that he thought the Downtown ban was an attack on civil liberties, motivated by  a simple dislike of smokers. Regardless of his opening remarks, he continued to lead this group on for an hour and 25 minutes, telling me at one point, “I think this is the best use of public salaries…” .

This pandering  is an incredible waste of $taff time. I tried to point that out but  Walker kept interrupting me. Well, let’s do the math kids. At the table sat John Rucker, at over $165,000 a year, playing secretary to the committee. Next to him sat city attorney Lori Barker, at over $190,000. Then two members of the clerk’s staff (writing the reports that Rucker will read verbatim at the next meeting), the head of the parks department, one of his rangers, and a guy from CARD.  Want a grand total on those salaries – all of which YOU pay?  Well, I don’t have the current figures in front of me, but I’ll make a shot at the general ballpark  – we’re talking almost three quarters of a million dollars in horseflesh, sitting in one room, babbling two identical items that have  already received hours of $taff time in various reports and meetings. And that’s just the salaries, don’t forget we tote their benefits and pensions.

Feel like a pack-mule? Well you should – a blind pack mule headed for a precipitous drop.

These meetings aren’t video-taped,  and the minutes are questionable – it depends on who’s taking minutes how complete they are. The clerk or her assistant tapes the meetings, but only for their own use. I’ve been to meetings that went all over town, voices were raised, huge arguments were had, and then read the minutes: a list of the items discussed and sometimes the names of any people who spoke, but nothing about what they said. Sometimes the minutes make note of whether a speaker supported or opposed an item, but that’s it. The committee members are allowed to read the minutes and ask for things to be stricken, even if they are true. The council does not allow verbatim minutes of any meeting. You figure that out.

I think these committees should all be thrown out. The reason behind committees is supposed to be airing these matters WITH THE PUBLIC.  Let me ask a stupid question: how many of you are available for an 8am meeting, Downtown?

I have been to these meetings for years. I may not have a paid job, but it’s not like I don’t have other things to do. I used to take my kids, as young as four years old, and was proud how well behaved they were and how they’d always pay attention and make the most adroit observations afterward. But frankly, intelligent humans that they are, they got sick of going – it will wear you down morally, if you don’t have enough experience to put it in perspective.

So now, I go in by myself.  Yesterday I got up at 5 in the morning in order to get my  morning chores done – I get sick of coming home at 10:30 in the morning, feeling like I’ve been running behind somebody’s truck, and find myself two to three hours behind in my day. So, by 4:00 in the afternoon, I feel pretty shagged out, but take a nap? No, I work for a living. When I don’t work, I don’t eat.

And I’ll complain here: Jim Walker treated me like shit. He doesn’t like me, and he doesn’t like what I have to say. When I tried to ask the woman from the Lung Association just how she intended to enforce this rule, Walker interrupted me and  told me I was out of line. I told him this was part of the conversation, that Bob Evans had already brought it up. He asked the Lung Association woman if she was “comfortable” being asked questions by me, and she said no,  so Walker told me to shut up, essentially.

The Lung Association bitch had made this statement: “We don’t expect business owners to enforce it (a ban on smoking in doorways Downtown)  – the public will enforce it.” Her exact words. When I tried to ask her just exactly how far she expected public citizens to go in enforcing this ban, she wouldn’t answer me. She didn’t want to say, “I don’t care if you get the front of your head knocked out, I want you to attack smokers wherever you see them.”

Evans and Walker had already said they believed the Downtown ban was excessive, that 25 feet was onerous, and Evans had already questioned whether it was enforceable. As soon as Walker told me to shut up, Katie Simmons from the Chico Chamber spoke up saying exactly what I said – neither the Chamber nor the DCBA will support this ban because, not only is it not supported by their membership,  it’s unenforceable. Several other speakers followed with the same concern, including a guy who had earlier spoken on behalf of the ban.  But Walker told me to shut up. I’m so sick of that little dick, next January will not come soon enough for me. I wish I could throw that screen door at his ass myself, the self-righteous little prick. Out with bad rubbish!

Walker did make some interesting statements. This is why I question the hour and 25 minutes of $taff time that was taken for this issue. Walker said, right off the bat, “we mix up health issues with annoyance issues…things we just don’t like.” He went on several times to say that he believed the advocates were “just trying to make smoking so inconvenient” nobody could smoke anymore. He made it clear he wouldn’t support it. But, 20 minutes later, he asked for more comments from the audience, saying, “convince me…” It went on like that for an hour and 25 minutes of a two hour meeting with another item still waiting on the agenda.

These committee meetings rationalize millions in $taff costs, for questionable results. They do not make these conversations any more accessible to the public. They instead give the impression that the public has had input when they most certainly have not. It’s just a total scam, and we pay for it.

I’ll get back to Jon Luvass’s little rant later (Item C), but right now I got things to do.

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Sitting with the Circle of Jerks down at City Hall

14 Feb

Happy Valentine’s Day! This morning I’m treating myself to one of those 8am meetings Downtown. I can’t resist this meeting. It is a perfect example of the waste of $taff time that is costing us millions a year.

Today’s example is the Internal Affairs Committee. Internal Affairs is part of the city’s  internal masturbation process. I’m sorry to be crude, but this process just lends itself to potty talk.
See, the City $taff have got to stay busy. They have to provide themselves with something to do to justify those salaries, like Burkland’s, over $190,000 a year. Mr. Burkland has to look like he’s doing SOMETHING, or at least his $taff has to appear occupied, so these morning committee meetings are just fuel for their salary rationale.
Here’s this morning’s menu:

A. Consideration of Request from American Lung Association for Comprehensive Policy Regarding the Reduction of Tobacco Product Waste.
The Lung Association, also searching for ways to prove their worthiness, is asking the city to ” protect the public from outdoor secondhand smoke exposure and to reduce tobacco product waste in public areas.“
I have to wonder, is the Lung Association “in on it”? Do they realize how much money this request will cost the taxpayer in $taff $alaries? As Dave Burkland points out, the city already has litter laws, they just don’t enforce them. What makes the Lung Association think they’ll enforce a redundant law any moreso than they’d enforce any other law? Who do they think is going to enforce this law, anyway – the same Chico PD who told us they wouldn’t investigate a major vandalism incident in a California Park neighborhood because they’d just been turned down for a pay increase?
I also have to ask, what’s Dave Burkland doing, allowing this use of $taff time? Is he an idiot, or is he “in on it”?  (okay, that’s a rhetorical question, the answer is “both”).
Next item,

B. Consideration of Request from American Lung Association for a Comprehensive Policy to Protect the Public from Second Hand Smoke.

Yeah, you’re reading it right. This is a redundant redundant request. Again the committee will consider “a comprehensive policy to protect the public from outdoor second hand smoke and reduce tobacco product waste.”

I know, stop it! Or as Elaine would say, “Shut Up!”

The explanation here is that “The Committee agreed to pursue the issue of second hand smoke after receiving input from community groups representing businesses, health care professionals and enforcement.”

The “community groups, representing businesses, health care professionals and enforcement” amounted to less than a dozen people, actually, well, I’m guessing, exactly three people.

The third item on today’s menu was agendized by exactly one person,  city Planning Commissioner and all around pain in the ass Jon Luvass.  Here’s Luvass’ item, you’re going to love it, you know, they always save the best for last:

C. Resolution to End Corporate Personhood – Discussion regarding a request from Jon Luvaas to have the Council adopt a resolution urging Congress to initiate an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to end corporate
personhood. This item was referred from Council at its meeting of January 17, 2012.

See what you’re missing when you’re not sitting with me in these meetings? Total insanity, that’s right. This whole thing is nuts, and not the kind of nuts that bring $$$$ into Butte County, but the kind of nuts that load it into their 401K and take to to Costa Rica.

I’d call it a Circle Jerk, but they don’t sit around in a circle. These meetings are an absolute waste of time, and of course, wads of your money.

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Oh, come on, you’re NOT THAT DUMB!

8 Feb

Last night I acted on an impulse and went before city council to ask them to agendize a discussion regarding how a tax increase measure is placed on the local ballot.

As I said, our city clerk informed me that a tax increase measure can be placed on a ballot with nothing but a simple majority of council – 4 of 7 members. Or, council can call for the proponents to carry an approved  petition and gather 10 percent of the registered voters.

So I thought I’d get this discussion going by asking council to agendize it for a near future meeting.  This issue was brought up last November, just kind of leaked around, no real details were given about the measure itself or the people who are backing it.  Since then it has been treated like some kind of state secret. I think a tax increase is something that needs the star treatment, lots of publicity, lots of public attention., lots of yap-yap.

So I asked. What I got was surprising. Two of the seven acted as though I was asking for a discussion of the measure itself. That’s not what I said. I made my self point-blank clear – I had written it down on a piece of paper aforehand, and practiced reading it to my family. My husband and teenage son were able to tell me what I was saying, but when I read off that piece of paper at council, I got dumb stares and one councilor’s opinion that  “it might be premature to discuss this proposal…”

I stood back up and  asked council if they understood my request – at this point I was feeling pretty perplexed. They aren’t stupid. They knew I was asking to discuss the procedure by which such a measure is placed on the ballot, not the measure itself. So, why play dumb? Ann Schwab tried to flat ignore my request, while Scott Gruendl said it should be agendized, but immediately launched into his own tour de force rant over the assault at Burger King. I never got an answer.

Well, I think we know why, given this morning’s Enterprise Record:

“City now operating at a loss: Chico to lose millions for redevelopment, thousands more from main fund”

Last night they came right out with it – they’ve been paying salaries with the RDA, and benefits, and pensions.  Not to mention, the bond payments on the RDA debt. Yessiree, they been buying groceries and making the credit card payment WITH  the credit card.

So, I can see why they want the tax increase, oh sure. But I don’t appreciate the way they’re going about it, kinda dishonest, using that dumb act, as if.

I have a very smart dog. Her name is Biscuit.

Yep, that's the blue ball alright.

She has her toys she likes, among them, six lacrosse balls – three white, one red, one yellow, and one blue.  And she’ll play with all of them, but if you ask her for the blue one, that’s the one you get. She’ll search the entire back yard, through brush piles and weeds and gopher holes, under cars and behind sticker bushes. She’ll bring back that blue ball every time.  She never tries to hand me a stick, or a bone, or even a white ball or a yellow ball. She never acts like she doesn’t understand.  If she can’t find the blue ball, she tells me, and we go looking for it together. But she never plays dumb, or refuses to answer.

Maybe we should give her a stint on city council, see if she’s a better listener than Ann Schwab.

 

 

 

 

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Aside

All it takes is four simpletons to put a tax increase measure on the ballot

7 Feb

Well, I got an email back from city clerk Debbie Presson, in response to my question about placing measures on the city ballot.

It only takes a simple majority to place this thing on the ballot – that’s four council members of the seven. Yep, they can just put in on a ballot, call for an election if necessary, and leave us all holding the bag for the cost, whether we wanted an election or not.

I’ll remind everybody how Ann Schwab pitched a piggy squeal (a la Ned Beatty) about having to hold an election for Measure A – even after the Measure A proponents gathered over 8,000 signatures, and I do believe that’s a thousand or so more than needed to qualify.

But Little Tommy, well, he’s going to try to go around to the kitchen stoop, and get his mommy to pull some strings for him.

I can’t help but think of another nursery rhyme: Tom, Tom the Piper’s son, he stole a pig and away he run! The pig was eaten, and Tommy was beaten, and he went wailing down the street…

This time, we can’t let him get away with the pig, dang it!

So write those letters. Write to Jim Walker and tell him Thanks,  you agree with him – there needs to be a petition drive. Write to Mary Flynn and Scott Gruendl, and tell them you are counting on them to demand that Lando show support in the community for this measure before we spend the money on an election – remind them they personally demanded that the Measure A proponents did just that. Write to Ann Schwab and tell her if she supports this tax measure by placing it on the ballot without a petition you will not support her in November.

yes, Juanita’s rude. You don’t have to be rude, but be firm.

Chico Taxpayer Association meeting – We are not alone!

5 Feb

I’d like to thank the folks who came to the library today, thanks very much.  We had a good “think tank” session and I feel like I have more direction with this effort. The meetings I’ve been having lately have made me feel good about  this.  I found out there are others,  I’m not the only one who doesn’t like this tax increase idea, and I’m not the only one who is willing to do something about it. And how!

We’ll have another meeting March 4, same place, same time. Thanks to Casey Aplanalp for setting that up with the library folks. Casey is right, we need to get ourselves organized, dole out chores and responsibilities.

In the meantime, I will ask Debbie Presson if this measure can be placed on the ballot without a petition. This is an important question, I’ll get on it and have a report asap.

But the first wave of defense in an effort like this is e-mails and letters, saying we will NOT support this tax.  I hope people will write to council. Write early and write often.

Thanks everybody, this is going to turn into something.

 

 

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Make them carry a petition

4 Feb

In an e-mail I received January 30, ex-Chico city manager and sales tax increase proponent Tom Lando told me, “yes, we are funding a community survey.”

The question is, is this survey intended to “test the water” and tell him whether or not he wants to spend the money to float a petition, or will he try to use this survey to get council to go over the collective public head and place the issue on the ballot without a petition?   City Council makes that choice.

A typical survey, such as the General Plan survey conducted on behalf of the city of Chico, contacts between 400 and 600 residents, by phone, supposedly chosen randomly by “experts”.  A survey depends on the skill of the person(s) making the phone calls – the dialog and the questions are often times leading.  There have been complaints about the recent “business climate” survey conducted fairly loosely by the city, saying some of the questions were leading and inappropriate.   The Diversity Action survey was just “brainstormed” by a $taff member and a group of volunteers, including ME, and they used that survey to shove through items like mandatory diversity training for $taff and board members.

Council is also allowed to simply ignore the results they don’t like or agree with – such as an overwhelming finding in the General Plan survey that residents want big lots – the council chose to ignore this finding in favor of high density.  Council outrightly ridiculed a survey brought forward by the group Concerned Citizens of Chico,  even though CCC used students from the same department at Chico State that the city uses do to alot of their surveys. Council is allowed to interpret a survey any way they want, and use it to validate their vote whichever way they go.

Petitions, on the other hand, are required to be signed by a certain portion of the fixed population – in Chico that amounts to over 6500 signatures, I’m not sure of the exact number.  Petitions are approved by the city clerk, so that people are allowed to know what they’re signing and whether it’s legal.  Petitions are not subjective – it’s  a legal matter of math.

I’d like to believe Mr. Lando is just testing the water before he spends as much as $50,000 on a petition. That seems intelligent and prudent.  We need to let him know that.

I’d say, contact Mr. Lando, and ask him how you can participate in his survey. Ask him who is conducting this survey.

And then let him know, that regardless of the results of his survey, you will expect him to carry a petition and get the required number of signatures.

That’s Tom Lando, at Lando and Associates, 111 Mission Ranch Blvd, Chico, 95928, or tlando@landoandassociates.com

E-mail is convenient, but don’t forget to write those letters, get them in the mail. There’s something about snail mail that says, “I mean it, dammit.”

Katy Sweeny at the Enterprise Record is also conducting a simple poll – you can contact her at Twitter@KatySweeny or ksweeny@chicoer.com

And don’t forget – tomorrow at the Chico library, 11:30, hope to see you there.

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Tell them you won’t pay for their greed and incompetence

3 Feb

I’m looking forward to seeing like-minded people at the library this weekend – that’s Sunday Feb. 5th at 11:30 am, Chico public library at the corner of First and Sherman Avenues.   I’ll have a sheet of contact information and hopefully we can come up with some ideas that will wither this tax on the vine.

But don’t wait to make those contacts, write early and write often.

https://chicotaxpayers.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/please-contact-your-council-with-your-opposition-to-the-proposed-tax-increase/

Ex-city manager and tax increase proponent Tom Lando said to me in a recent e-mail, “I believe that the funds could truly help our community.”

According to Enterprise Record reporter Katy Sweeny, “Lando and (Jim) Stevens of Northstar Engineering have met with dozens of people in the community. They have talked about using the money for 15 additional police officers, a police station, a fire station, filling potholes, aiding the Chico library, Bidwell Mansion, the Veterans Hall, high school sports, theater arts and industrial arts, an aquatic center, a baseball  or football stadium with meeting facilities, local non-profits, Bidwell Park maintenance, and maintenance for some of the facilities.”

I’m sorry, but this wish list does not seem to have the slightest foundation in reality. It’s just a bunch of promises to get what they want. Lando has said he hopes this tax increase will raise $12 million a year. The police station alone was projected at about $40 million, but that was 10 years ago. Now they say it will run closer to $65 million, and that figure’s already got dust on it.

“A” fire station? You mean, one? Where? After the building binge this city permitted, you’d think we needed a few new stations, but given the price tag on the new cop shop I’m afraid to ask what a fancy new station house like the spectacle on Manzanita is going to cost. This town can’t build something practical, within it’s means – they have to go Taj Majal on everything.

These are the kind of projects that put us in trouble. When $taff  decided to pay off  the bonds for the old “new” parking lot on Second Street so they could pursue new money for the upcoming remodel, they bottomed out the entire Downtown traffic fund, every last frigging penny. They’re paying for the Downtown remodel with some grants and with RDA money they were able to squeeze out before that little gravy train ran off the tracks. Oh yeah, don’t forget – YOU PAY $3 FOR EVERY $RDA YOU GET.

Did you know, we’re still paying for the “new” city hall? As well as the remodel of the perfectly good “old” building that had been deserted in favor of the “new” building. You will pay for that city hall building for the rest of your natural life. Your grandkids will pay for it. How often do you find yourself in that big fancy building with all the huge  windows and artwork? Everything all swishy and new, the HVAC running 40 hours a week, damn the financial torpedoes!

Well, guess what, there’s 76 less employees in that building lately, and counting down. They’ve just let go or early retired 76 employees, including cop positions they have left empty, and Lando is telling us he will hire 15 new cops and provide them with a spiffy new building. It just doesn’t make sense.

Lando is certainly aware how expensive a cop is – salary starting around $50,000 and ranging up to $120,000, plus benefits and retirement. Overtime is written into the contracts so many cops double their agreed-upon salary and use this overtime to spike their  retirement. See,  cops retire at 90 percent their biggest year of salary they made over the last few years before retirement, so the older ones just start spiking their ass off.

And, Jennifer Hennessey says, the cops collect too much workman’s comp, putting us over budget on that fund year after year after year.

This brings us to the point: why is our city in trouble? Well, I’ll tell you what, it ain’t because you and me are not paying enough taxes.

We’ve got over 100 employees making regular salaries over $100,000 a year. We pay their benefits and their pensions.  Where does this leave us?

http://www.fixpensionsfirst.com/calpers-database/?first_name=&last_name=&employer=CHICO

I have the worst suspicions, this tax increase money will not go to some Pollyanna scheme to save the library or high school sports.

Please write those e-mails now, let them know, save Lando some time, trouble and money.  We will not be taxed more to save them from their own greed and incompetence.

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Please contact your council with your opposition to the proposed tax increase

2 Feb
CONTACT:

TOM LANDO  – tlando@landoandassociates.com

CHICO CITY COUNCIL – as a group, dpresson@ci.chico.ca.us. Individually – aschwab@ci.chico.ca.us; aholcombe (same), mgoloff, bevans, msorensen, sgruendl, jwalker. This might be a good tack – some people are distrustful of a “form letter” sent to a whole group.  Remember, Schwab and Evans are up for re-election, but it’s worth your time contacting the others as well, they’ll all vote on it.

KATY SWEENY at the Chico Enterprise Record – Ms. Sweeny is doing her own survey, you can contact her on Twitter@KatySweeny, or ksweeny@chicoer.com

KATIE SIMMONS, interim director of Chico Chamber of Commerce – katie@chicochamber.com – please ask Ms. Simmons for her support in opposing this measure that will leave you with less money to spread around town. That’s not good for her clients. 

HEATHER KEAG, director of the Downtown Chico Business Association – heather@downtownchico.com –  ask Ms. Keag for her support in opposing this tax increase. Most of the businesses Downtown collect sales tax, and they’re going to be hurting if this increase goes through. 


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