Ray Kerridge has finally been dislodged from the city administrative pipeline. No word on whether he self propelled or was plunged. Either way I think this is a good thing for Sacramento. I suggested he resign when the first massive budget shortfall was announced, followed by the news that Sacramento had become the second most violent city in California (second to only Oakland). If you’ve read this space for  a while you’ll remember when I lambasted Mayor Johnson for touting Kerridge as a high quality city manager.  I was shocked Johnson said that at the time given Kerridge’s complicity in running Sacramento’s budget into the ground.

A lot of people praise Kerridge  for curing the city of its bureaucracy ills, but let’s get real. The city is facing a $50M budget shortfall, allegations of wrongdoing ( one which is threatening to balloon insurance premiums for Natomas homeowners), water meter scandals, and many other bumps, bruises and blackeyes and Ray has been all but AWOL in the media.  Transparency? Nope. Communication? Nope. Accountability? Nope. He’s been seen and not heard most of the time, and has created the perception that he is either shy, aloof, or despondent.. none of which bode well for a person responsible for managing a city.

Now, let’s be fair: Did he have the best supporting cast? Of course not. The Sacramento City Council is more dysfunctional than Jon and Kate. But come on, you have to have some brass to be in that position and frankly I never saw Kerridge demonstrate any. Kerridge seemed like a decent administrator, but that’s where his management skills seemed to end. Maybe he was a real dynamo behind closed doors, but somehow I doubt it.

It seems to me Fargo saw a like-minded greenie in Kerridge and wanted him on board to help her see her green vision through. I understand she pined (pardon the tree pun) for him to have the city manager position and was elated when he got it. Hence it would have seemed reasonable for him to bounce on down the road when she did… but that didn’t happen.

I don’t know Ray Kerridge. He seems like an honest, decent, hardworking guy. I wish him the best in his next position. I just didn’t think he was a good fit for his position, and I think his departure will ultimately be a good thing for Sacramento as long as they replace him with someone more experienced and tuned into what’s most important to Sacramentans… like jobs… and public safety.. and education… and transportation.. and small business development.

Here’s a list of several City of Sacramento employees who are prime candidates for surgery of a different metaphorical kind..

Ray Tretheway: Blepharoplasty (or “Eyelid Lift”)
Ray needs to open his eyes, and have a look at his own neighborhood where residents will line up to tell you how it has gone from bad to worse since he took office as council person. Now Ray is seeking to loot the North Natomas Finance Plan to fund a West Natomas fire station that should have been built with revenue the city instead spent on downtown projects during the Fargonian Regime. The least Ray could do is buy us a meal at one of the swanky joints downtown. And the least we could do for Ray’s own good is RECALL HIM.

Ray Kerridge. Abdominoplasty (or “Tummy Tuck”)
This won’t be popular, but our city staff is bloated and the fat needs to be cut. The staff is still the same size it was when the good times were rolling, and that is not going to work in these lean times. No one wants to see people lose their jobs, but the bottom line is most companies are cutting personnel to stay above water, and our city should do the same. It’s the cold hard of reality of a recession. My condolences to those who will have to find work elsewhere. I have been laid off twice. It sucks. But drastic economic times call for drastic measures and Kevin Johnson’s audit should identify a lot of non mission critical jobs that can be cut until the city’s dire financial position changes.

Lauren Hammond. Rhinoplasty (or “Nose Job”)
Keen observers will note the honorable councilwoman Hammond is the only one at city hall NOT pinching her nose when the half-baked half-vapored trash-to-energy proposal is discussed in council’s chambers. She remains a staunch proponent of the plan, even though the company offering to construct the “plasma arc gasification” plant free of charge will not discuss financials unless the city signs a contract with them. Lauren continues to push the plan, despite unanswered questions about toxic metal handling, and prospective locations (which one Joe Sac reader opined could very well be North Natomas, the city’s favorite dumping ground). Even dummies like Joe can smell a garbage proposal when one floats under his schnoz.

Leslie Fritzsche. Rhytidectomy (or “Face Lift”)
Poor Leslie is our Downtown Development Manager. There was a time when that title might have been an impressive resume entry, but now days it holds no more cred’ than “Shooting Coach, Sacramento Kings.” In short, the way things are shaping up, the K Street Redevelopment effort outgoing mayor Heather Fargo touted as one of her greatest achievements might–just might–turn out to be one of the costliest FORTY MILLION DOLLAR mistakes the city ever made. $40 million is the number of [North Natomas??] dollars the city burned to acquire K Street property from former owner, Moe Mohanna. $20 million of it was vaporized to help furniture store guru–and Southern California resident–Joe Zeiden (of Z Galleria fame) turn the area into his own little “retail row.” Well, the city has all the property and the coast is finally clear for Zeiden, but now he is nowhere to be found.  Word is that Zeiden is frustrated it took six years to get the deal done (typical Fargo latency), and now wants even MO’ (not Moe) MONEY from us!! Time for Leslie and the council to get their jaws off the floor and find another partner.

Call to action: Recall Ray Tretheway, cut city personnel until city’s finances improve, nix the garbage vapro plan, and STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY ON DOWNTOWN SURGERY!!!