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?

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

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.

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.

Trethaway (District 1) – 2001
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 – 1998

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.

Mark- You got me on that one…there’s still hope after all!