In this video from last night’s council meeting, Kevin Johnson proposes SAMI 2.0 to the council. The music at the beginning is the Metro Sac channel background music. I overdubbed it because it seems so appropriate to underscore what appears to be a lot of sincerity (and dare I say humility) on the mayor’s part. Who knew Mayor Johnson would hoist up another long range strong arm mayor air ball so soon? Sac Bee’s Marcus Breton might have. He wrote a recent column titled “Kevin Johnson can still be strong mayor.” When i first read that headline I thought to myself, “Wow, that might be the smartest thing Breton’s ever said.” Course I was thinking Breton was going to tell me Johnson could still be a “strong” mayor without the title. No such luck. Then again, that angle’s mine anyway 
Given the 5 point “broader” nature of the new SAMI 2.0 Johnson proposed last night, I think an acronym adjustment may be in order. How about the “SAMI Bundle”? If you ask me it’s kinda cool because with the Mayor’s new proposal you get five SAMI features for the price of one. Personally I like the changes to the boss man part; that is, instead of the mayor only being able to hire and fire “four thousand” people as in SAMI 1.0, he can now hire and fire only twenty or thirty.. errr twenty or thirty of the most important positions in the house, of course. Well wait, that was always the case.
Forget the contention and divisiveness. Time to put that unfortunate stuff behind us, work as colleagues…. and draft my new proposal.
He is Kevin Johnson and he approves of his message.. which is “I’m going to find a way to be strong mayor whether you like it or not.”
But hey, I am glad to see Mayor J exercising some humility. In a recent post I suggested he apologize to the public AND his council colleagues for not being more collaborative. Shocker. He did just just that last night. That’s what leaders do when they mess up. Thing is, what they DON’T do is then proceed to make the same mistake all over again… which it appears Johnson is doing with SAMI 2.0.
What’s your take on this, Sac Town?
Hey we beat the Bee to this story!
I think Mayor Johnson’s determination and ability to go against the grain at any cost no matter how sad and pathetic it makes him look would be good for the city —IF the man could actually look in the mirror and see what so many of us are seeing and if he could look beyond himself- beyond the mirror.— But he’s living a fairytale- he’s the man looking in the mirror saying, “Mirror mirror on the wall whose the fairest of them all” and the mirror (filled with special assistants, volunteers…) replies “it’s you King, you are the fairest of them all- keep looking at yourself and not at the community”
If ONLY he could put as much energy, determination, resources and money towards the community and not towards his SMP, heck if he could conquer his own demons prior to attempting to change the city charter he could have been a good mayor but as it stands he’s living a fairytale- he’s not even a politician- he’s a character looking in the mirror for the man he believes he is no matter what anyone else is seeing.
Oh, I’d like to add in regards to our mayor assumes full responsibility… - well it’s too little- too late!!! and means nothing when the end result is the same– seeking more power
I don’t agree with the term limits in the new proposal. There are two incredible problems with term limits for a mayor. The first is that there is no experience that helps a mayor administer a city more than administering a city. If you term limit a mayor you will be preventing him from having important experience. The second problem with term limits is that a mayors will often serve periods where they will not worry about reelection. The problem with this is they can operate against the will of the voters with no consequence. Part of accountability is that a mayor or councilman knows he will have to face the voters again. I think the first proposal was very good. I don’t approve the the changes to this one. If I could choose one thing in the old proposal to change, I would eliminate his veto powers. I think a mayor should not have a significant role in making laws. Mayor is defined as someone who elected by a city to administer the general laws. Our current city system operates with a mayor but against the very definition of a mayor.
Yeah what do you think Johnson’s angle is on the term limits?
He acted like a childish brat. I’m sure his advisors told him he should be humble. It was very evident that he was furious and did not want to admit any mistakes. It is not something he does. I don’t know why people actually believe anything this man says. He’s so desperate that he’s finally willing to compromise? How insulting. He tries to force-feed people this horrible SAMI and then backpedals? I don’t like backpeddlers who are forced to do so. It doesn’t prove that he’s had a change of heart. He just wants his foot in the door and he’ll continue to push and push and push until he gets what he wants. Kevvy ALWAYS gets what he wants. By hook or by crook, he ALWAYS wins. God help us.
Well he didn’t win the Finals
Susie, I don’t believe he is sincere either and I believe this alleged humble act simply adds insult to injury- pours salt on wounds. Their may have been a time when he always would get what he wants but all giants (or wanna-be giants) must fall and his time has come. Personally I think he’s been given too many passes!
I think his angle – with the term limits- is throwing a dog a bone- since it appears he’s lost a great deal of support and has caused many to loose trust in him– It appears some say they don’t support Mayor Johnson but support the SMP and perhaps he feels a way to further gain support is suggesting term limits… I agree with both excellent points posted by Ed Diggs regarding problems with term limits. Again, it appears our mayor is not looking after the best interest of the community but looking at his best interests and appearing to still try to gain support for his SMP –by hook or crook- and use of strategist…
Rhonda- I see we’re on the same page again
Mark- You got me on that one…there’s still hope after all!
why is it you all continue to blast the mayor but never the council? let me put this out there and see what you think:
Trethaway (District 1) – 2001
– 1998
Sheedy (District 2) – 2000
Cohn (District 3) – 1994
Fong (District 4) – 2004
Hammond (District 5) – 1997
McCarty (District 6) – 2004
Waters (District 7) – 1994
Pannel (District
These dates are all according to the city website and their individual bios. Those are the years they were elected to the city council. The “rookies” are Fong and McCarty having “only” been on the council for now 5+ years. Nobody complained when things were going well. In fact, things were going so well that the budget has a requirement for a “rainy day” fund and according to the budget workshop that was held on 2/11, the city has about $10 million in that savings account. for this i actually applaud the council. however, and all of this was part of the presentation which anyone can download, over the last two years the city has had a combined $108 million deficit. meaning before KJ took office, the city was in trouble.
why aren’t you up in arms about the city council’s and city manager’s responsibilities to balance the budget? why is it you give them a pass? you don’t want the SMI because there is a possibility of misuse of powers, i say aren’t those powers currently being misused by the council and manager? it seems to me that they were drinking the koolaid, like the rest of the world (i included – if you could only see how much my house is worth now compared to when i bought). why are you not calling for them to stand up and lead? individually they have as much power as the mayor does.
sandy sheedy at the 2/9 council meeting used her time to blast the SMI and say that the council has more important things to look at. while i agree there are important things to look at, where was this statement two years ago and last year? this is why i say get off of KJ and look at the council. sheedy has been on the council for 10 years now and she has the gall to say they have “more important” things to look at. maybe she should have realized how important those things were when she was opening up the city’s check book and creating this deficit. due to her’s and the other’s lack of foresight, jobs have been lost, homes have been lost, revenues have been lost, etc. all of this happened before KJ’s watch. they aren’t to blame for the entire economy, but aren’t they in charge of the local economy?
you all don’t want the SMI, and i actually can see susie’s points, since she and i have discussed this in the past. however, i do want the SMI and i feel it is an important thing to look at. i will concede that maybe the original incarnation of it may not have been the best option, but it should be looked at. you are all afraid of the “power grab”. ooohhhhh!!!!!! what you all fail to see is the power has already been grabbed and misused by this council. look at the summaries and how often they vote against each other. not often. and for those who think the majority of this city doesn’t want a strong-mayor in power, then you may want to watch the video of the 2/9 council meeting. over 50% of the public that spoke on the SMI were in favor of it. maybe councilmember sheedy should actually get out in the public and see what the public wants instead of saying she goes out into the public.
2112- You’re right about the council, they’ve been there too long. Many of them irritate me to no end; however, they have not had serious challengers for the many years that they have been in office. Also, you can’t blame them entirely for the state of the city’s finances because the entire country is in a recession. Yes, mistakes were made, but it is not their fault entirely that the economy is bad.
This next election, there will be many challengers for the council seats. I will not support my current council member, Steve Cohn. I have not met one person in my community that will support that man. There will be several challengers for all districts; some of whom have been hand-picked by Kevin. This is how he gets what he wants. He gets his people in there to hand him everything.He did that with the school board. His hand-picked people who were elected turned a blind-eye to all his wrong doings. Jay Schenirer (former school board member and KJ tool) and Angelique Ashby are just a couple of people who will probably be KJ’s tools if elected.
I wouldn’t use who showed up to the council meeting to speak for the measure as a guage as to how people feel. Again, KJ is the king of patterns. With the school board meetings, he used to bus people in to fill the seats and speak on his behalf all the time. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s done that same thing again.
At one time or another I’ve complained of many councilmember’s actions, inactions and reactions… It’s not personal- it’s business. I don’t plan on revisiting the concerns of council members at this time (guess I feel I have bigger fish to fry) I also spent a great deal of time sending emails and criticizing Fargo until she began to see prevention as more than jails and prisons. As it stands I distrust Johnson more than I have any council person and therefore perhaps I criticize him more than the council members but that’s what happens when Johnson puts himself in the spotlight and the only thing transparent about him is the fact we can see through his propaganda.
But personally I’d rather cross or burn one bridge at a time (Johnson SMP) Personally I don’t want to scatter all over the place attacking everyone at once–running amuck like a chicken with its head cut off- and prefer to focus in on one (who appears to be the most deceitful) and move on to others later. Personally I think the council can get in shape seeing King Johnson be taken down and reminded he is a public servant. So focusing on Johnson, in my opinion, is killing two birds with one stone. But quite frankly the council / manager hasn’t been given a pass and many, including myself, have spoken out and against them at one time or another. It’s not a personal attack on Johnson- it’s not personal- it’s business. When I was a kid and picked on by a bully my mother (old school) told me to pick the biggest of the bunch and fight win or loose but fight and the rest will see and listen to you. Since Johnson appears to have the biggest head- ego- and the most deceitful out the bunch…. that’s the one I’d rather focus on, the one I’d rather fight.
you go girl. That’s a fight I’d pay to watch
Susie, thank you but my friend, I wouldn’t want you to loose your money betting on me
It wouldn’t be a fair fight. It wouldn’t even be one on one. Johnson plays and learned to fight with a team… I know I (with limited resources….) could not fight Johnson alone- when he will fight me with special assistants, volunteers, paid assassins 
… (heck if someone can go into my computer and delete my emails, delete all my addresses that I used to send emails regarding Johnson- it would not be a fair fight- Johnson fights dirty.)
That’s why I enjoy reading the posts of many and learning to fight -with a team- is of importance to me. I’ve learned a great deal from watching Johnson- I learned to not let ego stand/ block my vision so if I am getting in the ring I want to be a tag team player.
My education may be limited but I am not stupid and I would not exhaust myself til I collapse fighting Johnson’s entire team 
I’m not ready- I’m learning- and preparation and – most of all- collaborating with others is key. And heck, we don’t even know everyone who is on our not-so-transparent-mayor’s team someone would sucker punch me. I’d be blindsided by someone I wouldn’t even know to look for. 
I look forward to meeting you soon and again thank you
Desperate People driven to Desperate Acts?
SNR’s Cosmo Gavin has been doing some digging. Apparently there’s a new spinmeister in town for Team KJ, Shawn Callahan.
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/snog/blogs#BlogPost-1370922
Cosmo states:
“Shawn Callahan isn’t just the newest tool in Johnson’s strong mayor tool box, he’s also executive director of the right wing pro-war group Move America Forward. Back during the W days, they existed mostly to bash Cindy Sheehan and to generally whip up support for the war.”
Having read “Support is growing for the Mayor’s new consensus plan. Read The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board’s latest endorsment.” in an afternoon’s email blast from Sacramentans for Accountable Government group, Cosmo
emailed both Shawn Callahan and the Bee’s Stuart Leavenworth. No reply from Callahan but Stuarts reply
“Nice try, mayor.
As we stated in an editorial Thursday, the mayor is “getting closer to getting it right on his strong-mayor plan.” But we are not in favor of a rush to the ballot.
We think that Sacramento would be well served by mayor that has more authority to improve the city than past and current mayors have enjoyed. But we don’t support the mayor’s timetable on when the council should put together a consensus plan. That was clear in our editorial.”
Having followed the ongoing corruption investigation in San Bernadino County’s Assessor’s office and the possible use of PAC’s to launder funds:
http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_14387008?source=rss
I keep asking myself and others..What is really going on here in Sacramento and this State?