At least one policy wonk — Michael Lind of the New America Foundation's Economic Growth Program — is dissing the idea of California high-speed rail, and high-speed rail in general. Remember, Tracy is pushing hard to be a major stop on the to-be-built system that's supposed to link NorCal and SoCal and improve regional transit, to boot.
In fact, he's calling for an expansion and smarter use of our Interstate freeway system, which has served the country — and helped it sprawl — since its inception.
Read Lind's interesting take on the future of American infrastructure here.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Stressed out in San Joaquin
Yet another set of statistics that says San Joaquin County is deeply mired in an economic morass. This time, courtesy of The Associated Press.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Get involved in your own safety
Talked to police Chief Janet Theissen today in person for the first time. Mostly, we rapped about the department's renewed effort to get the community involved in keeping Tracy's streets safe.
In her own words, Theissen is big proponent of community policing — the idea that the most effective form of combating crime is to get non-uniformed residents to secure the streets of their city, a notion heartily endorsed on numerous occassions by Second Thoughts.
The theory goes that if people use their public spaces, know their neighbors and take ownership of where they live, work and play, there just isn't a whole lot of room for ne'er-do-wells and worse.
Theissen seems to be genuinely on board with the idea — she's certainly been visible in the community and has made herself available to folks who live here — and it's one reason I have hope for a safer, saner city.
In her own words, Theissen is big proponent of community policing — the idea that the most effective form of combating crime is to get non-uniformed residents to secure the streets of their city, a notion heartily endorsed on numerous occassions by Second Thoughts.
The theory goes that if people use their public spaces, know their neighbors and take ownership of where they live, work and play, there just isn't a whole lot of room for ne'er-do-wells and worse.
Theissen seems to be genuinely on board with the idea — she's certainly been visible in the community and has made herself available to folks who live here — and it's one reason I have hope for a safer, saner city.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Funny money matters in 11th District race
One note that should be added to Friday's story about Tony Amador, Elizabeth Emken, Brad Goehring and David Harmer, the four GOPers hoping to take down Rep. Jerry McNerney:
The money figures from the FEC, apparently, don't tell the whole story about who is raising what.
First of all, the figures are from the whole election cycle. That means the money Harmer raised in his 2009 special election bid for the 10th District seat counts toward his reporting total.
Also, when a candidate puts money into his or her campaign fund and then takes it out, it counts toward both income and disbursement totals. That means you could cycle the same $10,000 in and out of your campaign account 10 times without spending it, and you would report $100,000 in expenditures and $100,000 in contributions attained. While that wouldn't give you any more money to spend, it would inflate your fundraising numbers — and in the eyes of many political observers and insiders, that can make someone an imminently more attractive candidate.
Also again, those totals do not represent money just raised for the primary campaign season. It includes money that candidates might be tucking away for the general election campaign, as well.
It should be mentioned that these notes also apply to incumbents such as McNerney, not just challengers.
The money figures from the FEC, apparently, don't tell the whole story about who is raising what.
First of all, the figures are from the whole election cycle. That means the money Harmer raised in his 2009 special election bid for the 10th District seat counts toward his reporting total.
Also, when a candidate puts money into his or her campaign fund and then takes it out, it counts toward both income and disbursement totals. That means you could cycle the same $10,000 in and out of your campaign account 10 times without spending it, and you would report $100,000 in expenditures and $100,000 in contributions attained. While that wouldn't give you any more money to spend, it would inflate your fundraising numbers — and in the eyes of many political observers and insiders, that can make someone an imminently more attractive candidate.
Also again, those totals do not represent money just raised for the primary campaign season. It includes money that candidates might be tucking away for the general election campaign, as well.
It should be mentioned that these notes also apply to incumbents such as McNerney, not just challengers.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Rhetoric meets reality
Friday's Tracy Press cover story brought you the nuts-and-bolts campaign pitches of the four Republicans who look to be Rep. Jerry McNerney's main challenger this fall. But there's some analysis that didn't make it into the final report.
One thing in particular struck me during the interview process for the story. All four are running against an incumbent, and all, at one point or another in this campaign, have made reference to the corrupting nature of Washington, D.C., and that what the 11th District — and nation — needs is a representative untouched by that influence.
But they have also touted their experience working with legislators, knowledge of the legislative process and their ability to be effective from Day One.
There's a great argument to be made for being an outsider — someone who comes in with an outisde-the-Beltway perspective. There's also a great argument to be made for being experienced in the legislative process — someone who knows the ropes and who will be an effective representative of their constituents. (If you can't be that, remember, there's little point of being in Congress.)
However, it's tough to run as an outsider if you're also touting insider credentials. Just a thought.
One thing in particular struck me during the interview process for the story. All four are running against an incumbent, and all, at one point or another in this campaign, have made reference to the corrupting nature of Washington, D.C., and that what the 11th District — and nation — needs is a representative untouched by that influence.
But they have also touted their experience working with legislators, knowledge of the legislative process and their ability to be effective from Day One.
There's a great argument to be made for being an outsider — someone who comes in with an outisde-the-Beltway perspective. There's also a great argument to be made for being experienced in the legislative process — someone who knows the ropes and who will be an effective representative of their constituents. (If you can't be that, remember, there's little point of being in Congress.)
However, it's tough to run as an outsider if you're also touting insider credentials. Just a thought.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Tracy Press makes the nightly news
Rich Ibarra — he of the Channel 3 roving news team — just stopped by to interview someone at the Tracy Press about its shift to once-a-week publication. That someone just happened to be me.
If you're interested, I'll be on one of their afternoon or evening newscasts, at 5, 6 or 6:30 p.m.
We talked about the challenges facing newspapers and the Press in particular, specifically declining revenue, competition from the Internet and TV news, and just a seeming decline in citizenship interest in general.
Ibarra also shared about some of the changes in the TV news business since he began working at Channel 3 — which just happened to be 30 years ago today. (Quite the accomplishment in this business, by the way.)
He and his cameraman are a two-man crew basically tasked with covering everything south of the San Joaquin-Sacramento county line. So times are tough all around, not just for your local paper.
If you're interested, I'll be on one of their afternoon or evening newscasts, at 5, 6 or 6:30 p.m.
We talked about the challenges facing newspapers and the Press in particular, specifically declining revenue, competition from the Internet and TV news, and just a seeming decline in citizenship interest in general.
Ibarra also shared about some of the changes in the TV news business since he began working at Channel 3 — which just happened to be 30 years ago today. (Quite the accomplishment in this business, by the way.)
He and his cameraman are a two-man crew basically tasked with covering everything south of the San Joaquin-Sacramento county line. So times are tough all around, not just for your local paper.
A cautionary tale for City Council
As the Tracy City Council considers raising revenue (city speak for taxes) at its meeting tonight, there's a story in Stockton, our county seat, that the five council members should keep in mind when directing staff to deal with the city's continued budget deficit.
It's also a story that should get the attention — and fair reading — of union members and representatives.
You see, Stockton's fiscal ship is sinking faster than Tracy's. Much faster. So much faster that bankruptcy could soon be an honest consideration. One of the major holes in the government's hull is its union contracts — fire and police there receive (to the average working stiff) too-good-to-be-true benefits. And, unlike Tracy's outfits so far, it seems as though they've been more obstinant than helpful in negotiations.
So, what's the lesson for Tracy and its unions? That the housing boom, and the money it brought with it, is over. And it ain't coming back any time soon. That means everyone will have to recalibrate what is fair compensation — and fiscally responsible compensation — as cities try to live within their means.
Unions and cities can work together so that employees still get pay and benefits that are the envy of their neighbors while cities keep their financial houses in order. Or, they can squabble, waste money, drive the city further into the red and tarnish the reputation of police and fire employees who otherwise are usually the toast of the town.
Your decision, guys.
It's also a story that should get the attention — and fair reading — of union members and representatives.
You see, Stockton's fiscal ship is sinking faster than Tracy's. Much faster. So much faster that bankruptcy could soon be an honest consideration. One of the major holes in the government's hull is its union contracts — fire and police there receive (to the average working stiff) too-good-to-be-true benefits. And, unlike Tracy's outfits so far, it seems as though they've been more obstinant than helpful in negotiations.
So, what's the lesson for Tracy and its unions? That the housing boom, and the money it brought with it, is over. And it ain't coming back any time soon. That means everyone will have to recalibrate what is fair compensation — and fiscally responsible compensation — as cities try to live within their means.
Unions and cities can work together so that employees still get pay and benefits that are the envy of their neighbors while cities keep their financial houses in order. Or, they can squabble, waste money, drive the city further into the red and tarnish the reputation of police and fire employees who otherwise are usually the toast of the town.
Your decision, guys.
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