I read recently that losing 209 dep jobs will put the Sheriff’s Department at circa 1970 staffing levels. How’s that for public safety? Where is the outrage? I thought crime was a “regional problem” that demanded “multi agency cooperation” (or so said our mayoral candidate last fall).

If I was in an “unincorporated” area of Sacramento (and thank God I’m not), I’d be packing my $#@% up and heading somewhere else–likely somewhere with at least 1990’s staffing levels [Ed: yeah, somewhere like Natomas where cops are plentiful and crime is nearly non existent. Ha!]. If I was a Sac County supervisor who oversaw the county budget for the past five or so years, I’d be ashamed of myself.

How? That’s my one and only question. HOW does this happen? Blame it on the housing crisis or whatever you want, but the bottom line is that this is NOT happening in every county in the U.S. In fact many counties are doing fine–some are even hiring.

The difference? You tell me. I’m not ensconced deeply enough into local politics to weigh in with any degree of substance, but my common sense alone tells me that Sacramento County has been mismanaged. Plain and simple. They’ve either got unqualified people running it, or their priorities are completely backwards. I tend to lean towards the former, with a slight nod to the latter as well.

I have witnessed firsthand how ANTIQUATED and backwards the Sacramento County ASSessor’s office is. We’ve also learned–vis a vis multiple major stories–the problems plaguing Child Protective Services. Then there was the library snafu–at least in part associated with the county. I’m sure readers can share many more examples.

If other county agencies are run as poorly as the ones I’ve observed personally and through the media, I can pretty much guess why they are in the shape they’re in. To blame this snafu on John McGinness seems very shortsighted to me.  The trouble with Sacramento County seems to be in its leadership ranks. Perhaps its high time to flush them all down the toilet and start anew? While we’re at it, let’s rid ourselves of the California state liberal politicians and judges who have spent us into a financial disaster that is making Enron look like child’s play.

Oh well. God speed to all those folks living in “unincorporated” Sacramento County. Buy a weapon and sleep on it at night. You may just need it. And good luck to the folks in Arden Arcade who are trying to incorporate. Can’t say I blame you. The sooner you get your own police force the better. You can no longer count on your county.