Updated: 13:15 - additions in blue
I went to Inderkum High in Nomas tonight to attend the public safety meeting called to address the rash of home invasions and armed robberies terrorizing the community at present.
The good news is that it was so packed with cops, residents, press, and even members of the Guardian Angels, that people had to stand out in the hallway and listen without line of sight. The bad news is that a good 25% of the audience started streaming out long before it was over, visibly frustrated by some of the incredibly lame rhetoric coming from Faraway (Fargo+Tretheway). Here are some bullets…
-Cpt Hahn of the police department said in his opinion (he reiterated it was his opinion only) that kids are doing these crimes to be a “bad butt,” that is, to say, “I’m tough because I can wave a gun in your face.” I see what he is saying, and I agree with him. I’ll go even further and say these kids don’t have fathers and they have no sense of POWER in their life. I believe they are doing these crimes to gain a sense of POWER (listen to the Nas’s classic song “I gave you power”) and for MONEY because they are broke and women are an easy target. In MY opinion, these kids desperately need father figures and mentors.
-Cpt Hahn said several times, “these kids aren’t really getting anything..” to describe the types of valuables they are taking during the robberies. He went on to say they are taking “laptops, purses, wallets, cell phones..” He won’t like this, but in my opinion, those things ARE everything in this day and age. Personally, in my opinion, I would rather have my car, big screen, and video camera ripped off than my wallet and laptop! Again, MY opinion only. Sorry if MY opinion offends people.
-One resident said the city needs to do a better job enforcing codes throughout neighborhoods. Fargo took exception to that and said the city was doing a great job with code enforcement. NOT IT’S NOT!! I invite all readers to send me pics of unchecked code violations in your neighborhood. I am going to be out with my camera tonight. Stay tuned.
-The meeting was facilitated by a neighborhood association leader named Angelique and a good portion of it was spent introducing other neighborhood “leaders” and officials to the audience. Unfortunately Angelique didn’t pass the mic around so we were dependent on her to translate what people were asking during the short Q&A period. Not good. There were still at least 10 hands up (incl mine), when she said she wouldn’t take any more questions. I read Angelique’s comments in the paper today and they were SPOT ON and I appreciate her willingness to speak candidly about how the city has FAILED N Natomas! THANK YOU!
-Fargo was the first to speak. She acknowledged how scary these types of crimes were, then quickly reminded us that the council was on a two week break, but that this was important for her to attend–which IMPLIED she didn’t technically have to be there.
-Police reported that 17 home invasions have taken place in Natomas since June 1 (and a boat load of robberies)… and there were 24 TOTAL in all of the 2007.
-Fargo said public safety is her main priority and cited a new $25 million 911 center (wtf?!), and new police pit-stop on Richards Blvd downtown as proof.
-At one point a lady stood up and was very angry as she suggested a new arena was more important to the city than public safety. At that, Fargo rose to her feet with a scowl and motioned for the mic. Then, INSTEAD OF EMPATHIZING WITH THE VISIBLY SHAKEN LADY AND BEING SENSITIVE, she staunchly defended herself and the council’s record and stated Arco Arena was not EVER a priority over public safety–WITHOUT EVER once ACKNOWLEDGING THE LADY’S FRUSTRATION.
-Cpt Daniel Hahn told a lot of jokes and made people laugh throughout the meeting, proving he may have missed his calling as stand up comedian. Everyone loves a funny guy and his quips kept the meeting from getting too severe.. which was probably a good thing. . was absolutely fantastic and I HOPE he knows by now that I ♥ him and his staff for CARING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND THEIR STEPPED UP EFFORTS!!!
-When asked about excessive high density housing in Natomas, and told he and the city have control over how much of it gets built, a bewildered Ray Tretheway responded, “Yes we know there are a lot of people in Natomas and we’re doing what we can to address that…” (bear in mind he and Fargo are the ones who have approved all the high density and low income housing that is the cause of most of Nomas’s public safety ills). Old man Tretheway also shared a story about he also “had a home invasion happen” to him when a neighborhood 12 year old stole stuff from his house and others around him. he said he was shocked to learn kids under 15 were committing crimes.
-The police sub station Nomas homeowners are paying for with supplemental tax money may be located over on the Westlake side of I-5 IF it ever gets built. Chief Braziel told the audience he has no idea when it will get built (if ever)
-NO ONE mentioned anything about all the low income housing in Nomas. I tried but they wouldn’t take anymore questions.
-For much of the meeting Fargo and Tretheway talked amongst themselves and laughed. Tretheway had a smile on his face for much of the meeting. I swear that smile is either glued on, or he is on something–and whatever it is, I want some!
Overall I think it was fantastic to see so many residents come out. I am also appreciative of the police department’s efforts. I question Fargo and Tretheway’s value at the meeting and think it was more for show than anything as they both are COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH with what is going on in the community. I didn’t have the heart to criticize their dismal performance. North Natomas’s landslide siding with KJ in the primaries speaks volumes about voter sentiment here.
Hoping this rash of robberies ends soon.
Censored & banned.
Pwned
♥ Joe
Dear SELECTIVE READER.. nice distortion of my article. Sounds like I struck a nerve. You are OBVIOUSLY closer to the problem than I am give your anger . I wrote “Overall I think it was fantastic to see so many residents come out. I am also appreciative of the police department’s efforts.” Unfortunately Natomas/Crime/Fargo/Tretheway ALL go hand in hand.
Zac has a little trouble with his communication skills?
Joe - keep on keepin’ on. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
The reality is the current administration used what was to have been a productive exchange between police and residents ended up being a photo opp for Faraway. I don’t care if they get their stuff together because of the upcoming election or not - they just need to do it - and fast. Sick of talk - in the words of our first commenter, “Yeah the city has defently made some bad decisions in the managment of public resouses…”
We need that substation, we need our own district (separate from South Natomas) where our needs are represented.
Thanks, Lori. I think I acknowledged how great it was to see so many people come out right off the bat. I also stated my appreciation for the police department’s efforts. I also called the police department and introduced myself to Cpt Hahn and told him repeatedly how much I appreciate and support the police department. I also volunteer and have given many hours of my life to a non profit here in Natomas. I speculate this “Zac” person is connected to law enforcement and took offense that I mixed the police department and “Faraway” in the same article and somehow extrapolated and distorted that to mean I didn’t appreciate the police department’s efforts. I read the article again and I just don’t see it, but if I did inadvertently somehow imply I don’t appreciate the police department’s efforts, I sincerely apologize. But if you’re going to call me a “dick,” at least email me. I don’t use profane language to get my point across and I would ask that my avid readers like Zac try to refrain as well. After all, this is a family web site! :\
Joe-
I don’t see this crime spree as being a failure on the police or a black spot on their records in any way. I think Captain Hahn last night showed a great amount of poise and confidence in a setting that was obviously not his comfort zone. They’re busting their butts to get this solved.
However, I found it quite odd that Lisa Kaplan from the NUSD board was there but hiding in the back. If these kids are 15 to 19, I blame NUSD just as much as anyone else. What are they doing to improve the educational opportunities in our district? How are they inspiring kids to want to do better and know more? Why did they spontaneously close the only charter school with a school-to-career program in 2007? I used to work there- more than 50% of my kids had probation officers and we WERE keeping them off the streets until the district pulled all the funds.
The city has obviously deserted North Natomas. And despite an audience member’s comment that we need to remain consolidated, it was NORTH NATOMAS that paid for the non-existent police substation that was in our community master plan. I get her frustration but North Natomas was supposed to be the city’s second chance to fix their mistakes of the 80s in South Natomas… not more of the same.
Maybe Captain Hahn should be our new council representative. He’d tell the story straight up and there would be no more nonsense. I could vote for that kind of guy!
SacramentoBlog
I don’t see this being a failure on the police department’s fault whatsoever. Like you I applaud them ALL THE WAY for the work they are doing with the few resources they have. So NOT my focus. Guess I should have done as Zac stated and separated criticism of city so there would be no question as to where my loyalites lie.
Joe- I didn’t read any criticism of the police in your article, as originally written or revised. It was obvious to me that your critique sat firmly in the laps of the city officials, not the police department. No need to change your criticism!
Thanks. I think the article needed to be revised a bit to ensure the PD knows my beef is NOT with them and NEVER has been. I don’t understand the need to call me a “dick” when simple “hey dude, please clarify your loyalties” would have sufficed, but whatever. Guess everyone is mad about this. Tempers are flaring. Not my fault though. I am NOT getting paid to take care of this community.. I am PAYING for someone else to.
Joe, don’t bother even replying to assholes like Zac. His attitude is the precise reason there are so many problems in cities such as Sacramento. Every time someone raises their voice in frustration, there is always some prick like Zac who accuses them of whining and tells them to shut up. We are talking a classic case of ego-mania. Your article didn’t criticize the police and we all know it.
You are always going to have jerks like this attack you for giving a shit. I highly recommend you ignore them. I bet you anything this prick doesn’t even live in Natomas.
I highly doubt you could offend the police with a few smart ass remarks. I am thinking they got thicker skin than that, and really, you need to have thicker skin too if your are going to state your opinion so strongly. You should expect people to disagree with you. Only thing I don’t agree with is the nasty name he called you (I saw it before you censored it). You should have left it untouched to show everyone what kind of people are defending Fargo.
Zic Zac Zoe needs to go play on nick.com if he doesn’t like the big boy talk. If I were you I would ban his IP. There is no place for language like that
Spidey, good idea. I took your advice and banned everyone who has sent me offensive or threatening comments or emails. If these people hate me so much, they won’t miss my web site. -Peace, Joe
Dude that is f’g hilarious. You have to love God-mode web admin rights
Fools get stooooopid and think they can do or say whatever they want on peoples web sites and then suddenly they get a big fat FORBIDDEN message and they’re like what the f—? Too funny.Also be careful with itchy BAN finger because sometimes you can f around and ban an entire neighborhood because the DSL carriers like AT&T region their IP ranges. I once banned the entire Arden area on my web site 
l8r
Joe, let me respond to two things I love about your article. First, you seem to want answers and solutions instead of just pointing the finger. Thanks. It is too easy to just say who is to blame. And, it will soon be a new mayor dealing with it all anyways. Second I want to defend the NUSD’s record on working with kids in this area. NUSD is the ONLY school district in Sac County with a mentoring program in place. As a member of the Natomas Schools Foundation, I can tell you we raised over a million dollars in the last two years to get this mentoring in place. Last year we had 700 mentors in our schools and the stats show it is making a difference, especially at the Elementary level. Lisa K. is one of the champions of this, so the commentor who took a swipe at her may want to rethink it.
I am a believer in complexity theory. Things are always way more complicated than they first appear. Yes, there is too much high-density, low-income housing (an awful combination btw…as was proved in the 60s with Caprini Green complex in Chicago). But why did they approve it? Follow the money. A developer doesn’t just build apartments or homes. They are a combination. In order to build luxury homes a developer has to bring in a partner to build higher density. All cities in California are required
(sorry, hit the wrong button)….
required by law to have a certain percentage of low-income housing. Sac has done a lousy job with this and has to play catch up. Natomas is the only area of the city where large apartment units can be built presently. Therefore, they were required by law to build them…only, they did it way too fast and way too stupidly. So what do the builders get out of it all? They get tax incentives and a promise that their apartments will be able to get off Section 8 after a certain period of time.
The solution to this is for us as citizens to force city council to relinquish the idea of 100% Section 8 housing and go to 20% like other cities. The answer is for youth groups to go into apartment complexes and give the kids something else to do (grin). The answer is for more people to mentor in schools. Thanks for the soapbox.
Soapbox away! Ty for your input