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Articles from
June 2009
Great Opinion Piece
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I was not able to read the newspaper extensively until just a few minutes ago. Former Yolo County Deputy Sheriff Isla Vonleden has written a great piece on law enforcement and some of the issues involved in the Gum Avenue shooting.
Read it here.
This is the best piece written to date on the matter.
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TANC -- what a bunch of nonsense
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 ::
0 Comments
My friend Al passed on this link regarding TANC.
These folks came to the Board of Supervisors today. I did not feel any more confident in them after the presentation than I did before.
Yolo County needs to fight this thing.
In the end I believe the fix is going to come from the Legislature.
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Drivon to be Interim CAO
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 ::
0 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Beth Gabor, Public Information Officer
June 30, 2009
(530) 666-8042 [w] ▪ (530) 219-8464 [c]
Board of Supervisors Appoints
Robyn Truitt Drivon Interim County Administrator
(Woodland, CA) – Today, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors announced the appointment of Robyn Truitt Drivon as Interim County Administrator. She will be filling this position upon the retirement of County Administrator Sharon Jensen later this summer. Ms. Drivon will also continue serving as County Counsel, a position she has held since 2006.
“We have asked our illustrious County Counsel, Robyn Drivon, to assist us in this time of transition as Interim County Administrator,” said Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chair Mike McGowan. “We are sorry to see Sharon Jensen go, but wish her well in her retirement and look forward to further recognizing her and many accomplishments in this leadership position later this summer.”
Ms. Drivon first served as Yolo County’s Assistant County Counsel beginning in 2005. Prior to coming to Yolo County she served as Assistant County Counsel in San Joaquin County. Her experience in local government includes local and federal trial and appellate practice, together with a variety of other legal services to county officials and departments. Ms. Drivon holds a bachelors of science degree in Human Resources and Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco, and a jurisdoctorate degree from Humphreys College School of Law.
“I am honored by this interim appointment and look forward to further working with the Board of Supervisors and serving the residents of Yolo County in this manner,” said Robyn Truitt Drivon. “My tenure with Yolo County has been very rewarding and I look forward to the many challenges we face as a county in the months to come.”
The Board of Supervisors has hired the firm of Peckham and McKenney to conduct an open recruitment for the County Administrator position.
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Commission Openings
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 ::
0 Comments
There was a list of open positions on county commissions recently in the Daily Democrat.
There are some people in the pipeline for some of these positions but I am still looking for someone to appoint to the Yolo County Health Council and the Child Care Planning Council.
If you are interested is serving on either of these please let me know.
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SB 460 (Wolk) -- great first step
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Senator Lois Wolk just had one of her staff members bring a piece of legislation to our attention -- SB 460.
This bill is a great first step to deal with the TANC issue in Yolo County. I personally would like to even go further in stalling these people out.
I am thankful for Senator Wolk stepping into this mix. Good for her. Love it.
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Pension Reform
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 ::
1 Comments
This article in the Sacramento Bee today is important. California needs real reform of the public employee pension program.
Every single one of the points mentioned in this article are things that I support.
Additionally, I think we need to look at the way pensions get backdated when the formulas change.
This is the sort of things that needs to emerge from this financial crisis.
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8 years
Monday, June 29, 2009 ::
3 Comments
Jenn and I celebrated our 8th year wedding anniversary yesterday. Pretty cool.
Many of you know the story but ...Jenn and I decided to get married and not tell anyone. We went through pre-martial counseling at our church. We read books. We negotiated the deal. All was great.
So on June 28th, 2001 she had her best friend fly in from LA to be the Maid of Honor. Jeff Talkington flew in from San Diego as my Best Man. Pastor Scherer from St. Paul's Lutheran in Woodland did the ceremony. We all met at a little church over in Oakville just north of Napa.
We wrote our own vows and had a total of six people in the church for the ceremony. Jenn, Dorie, Jeff, Pastor, Photographer, and me.
After the ceremony we took pictures and then boarded a plane out of SFO for Madrid where we spent time rolling around Spain. It was a special time for us.
We called our patents to let them know on the way to the airport. They were a little miffed but got over it.
So on Satuday we went to the only Spanish restaraunt in Napa. It was excellent. I strong recommend it. It is called ZuZu. Then we headed to San Francisco to see the Symphony. Great time.
Amazing that Jenn has put up with me for this long. I am a lucky man.
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Cap and Trade
Saturday, June 27, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I have not been reading as much on Cap and Trade as I should have. However, I generally think the goals of the legislation are admirable since I do believe in the enormous problem of global warming.
Here is the issue -- this is really a problem for the manufacturing sector since our international competitors will again not be playing by the same rules. The provisions of this legislation should be included in a global treaty.
One final point. I used to work in the California Legislature. Year after year we would hear about how the sky would fall if AB XXX or SB YYY passed. Well, they passed and everything kept ticking. The outrage over this legislation seems to be along the same lines. After working there for ten years I stopped even paying attention to claims that the sky was falling.
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Ohhhhh good grief....
Saturday, June 27, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I almost choked when I saw this on CNN.com just now.
Lots of headlines, lots of camera, and a black person involved........Shazam. Jesse Jackson shows up.
This is the Jackson (of Jackson 5) family. They have dealt with the media for years. They have attorneys falling out of the sky. They have dealt with fame, awards, scandal, wardrobe malfunctions, and all kinds of stuff. They do not need Jesse Jackson at all.
What this is ----- Jesse Jackson needs them and feeds off being in the news with this story. This guy is lame.
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Team Wallace
Thursday, June 25, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Derek Wallace is a Woodland guy that needs a lung transplant. Team Wallace is a group of caring people that are trying to help him with the financial and insurance issues associated with the transplant.
On Saturday they are having a garage sale on Norden Way (just east of the Gibson House). Tomorrow they are hoping that Good Day Sacramento comes out to do a live shoot. I know Mayor Davies has been asked to come. I was asked but can't make it.
So if you are are inclined swing by the sale tomorrow. Also you can join the Team Walace Facebook group.
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Wow -- this is funny. Someone needs to relax.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Thanks to JK for pointing this out to me......read here.
Lizzy really needs to take a break. For the record you can call me Matt, Max, Rex, Mex, Darryl, the other brother Darryl, Road, Max Road, Road Rex...but never say I was in the Army. Is that clear?
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Head for the door
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 ::
1 Comments
I am disgusted with all of these stories about elected officials cheating on their spouses.
It is really none of our business what Governor Sanford did on his own time. If he wants to go to Argentina -- great for him. My problem is that it appears that he started this on a trip paid for by taxpayers.
Senator Ensign of Nevada is also a dirt bag. However, he should resign in my opinion because he cheated with one of his Senate employees and one one of his employee's wife. Hit the door.
Congressman Barney Frank had a bunch of craziness with a employee. Get out.
President Clinton and Monica were clearly adults but she was a White House intern. Get out.
I think they are all dirt bags but if the affair involves any public resources or employees the elected official should resign.
The news should all be about the great opportunity available in Iran for democracy. Instead we are talking about these idiots.
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People in Woodland are good -- proof
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 ::
0 Comments
So I read David Greenwald's post this morning that included my comments regarding the level of community concern I sense in Woodland. When I read it I was curious to see how many people commented on the piece. I always have so many fans in Davis.
Guess what. A story about Measure J posted at the same time had 54 comments where the story about the shooting in Woodland had 5. Both have been up for about 16 hours.
Over at the Woodland Journal they had five comments about the case being completed by the Woodland Police Department. Meanwhile a string of 70 comments about a mural on Main Street is well over 70.
Clearly this is not scientific. But I have asked dozens of people now about this incident in Woodland and they all seem to be confident in Sheriff Prieto and Chief Sullivan and their troops.
Some of you are going to cry and scream about this -- but that is certainly what I sense in the community.
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Senator Boxer and General Walsh
Monday, June 22, 2009 ::
3 Comments
I have not commented about the issue of Senator Boxer insisting that General Walsh refer to her as
"Senator" instead of Ma'am.
You can watch it here.
I didn't comment because at first I really thought the whole thing was lame. I still think it is still not a huge issue but it really does show a level of arrogance that most people that have been in the military identify with right away.
Most people just don't say this kind of thing.
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Monument Bend
Monday, June 22, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Here is some on-line information about Monument Bend. This is where the monument is along the River Road between Woodland and West Sacramento.
Source #1
Source #2
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Where is it?
Monday, June 22, 2009 ::
2 Comments
For you history buffs out there -- someone tell me where this monument is in Yolo County.
If any of you have some information about Leonidas Taylor please send it my way.
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Father's Day Present
Sunday, June 21, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Today for Father's Day I woke up with Abbie wanting to give me a hint about a present. She said she it was something that "you sleep in when camping...but it is not a sleeping bag." She then told me that she was not going to tell me exactly what it was but it was a "tent".
So we have it set up in the living room. Abbie tried taking her nap in it today -- that did not work.
Later tonight all four of us are going to try to sleep in it as a trial run for the camping later this summer. This should be interesting.
You can see a picture below. This is way bigger than what I envisioned but then again I am not being forced to carry it along with a multiple weapons, ammo, batteries, food, and water for 35k prior to using it.
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Security Cameras
Sunday, June 21, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Check out this article in the LA Times about all of the security cameras in Lancaster, PA. This is a city just a little bit bigger than Woodland.
This bothers my Libertarian nature but in this case -- government is really not involved.
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In N Out - Father's Day
Sunday, June 21, 2009 ::
0 Comments
After some encouragement from Adam I chose In-n-Out as my Father's Day lunch destination. Jenn told me to order some "spread' for her.
I did. This is what we got. Not special sauce. Not secret burger spread. We got spread. Love it. Keep it simple and let it go. I love these folks.
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Opera House Event
Sunday, June 21, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Last night Jenn and I got a babysitter and headed down to the Opera House/Heritage Plaza for the Opera House fundraiser. What a great event.
The food was excellent with lots of the Woodland standard there -- Tazzina, Savory, Bagel City, Ludy's...all good stuff. They also had wine from lots of local makers.
Here was the find. They had food that I thought was from Pad Thai -- a place that I really like. But no. It was from a place I have not been to yet -- Bangkok Cuisine at 525 Main Street.
It was excellent. I just found their website. I will be headed down there to check this place out.
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Iran Again
Saturday, June 20, 2009 ::
0 Comments
The country of Iran is a little bit bigger than Mexico with about twice as many people as live in California. A high percentage --probably around 2/3 live in cities.
In the next 72 hours five or ten people and the decisions they make will shape the history of this country and the region. It is my hope that those people standing up for rights and freedom will be bold. The risks are enormous and may cost lives but the benefits of freedom are enormous.
The current government treats women terribly, beats people for expressing their opinion, and denies people to practice religion freely. Clearly that is not freedom.
Let's hope those five or ten people will make the decision that is best for the millions of lives they can influence. They have the ball and clock is running out.
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Gum Avenue Shooting
Saturday, June 20, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I clearly have my own view on the appropriate way for a community to act following a police shooting of any kind. Some of you disagree with that view -- fine with me.
No matter what your view of the Gum Avenue shooting I actually think a very small group of people even care.
Now -- I realize that 150-200 people really care a great deal -- but I just don't sense a large community outrage over the issue. It is my sense that most of the people in Woodland certainly support the Woodland Police Department and even the Sheriff's Department. They view this shooting as one of those things that happens when you have a county of 200,000 people.
There certainly are some people that see a real problem here and I acknowledge that some of them are thoughtful people (not all of them). However, my view is that the vast majority of people in Woodland are good to go.
What I hear time and time again is -- bad things happen when you have a knife and are on drugs.
The District Attorney's office is going to do their review and it may get considered by other law enforcement agencies. However, I don't see anything coming from all of this.
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Iran
Saturday, June 20, 2009 ::
0 Comments
What is happening in Iran right now is what those of us that value democracy hopes will happen all over the world.
I am praying for the freedom fighters there and hope that whatever the outcome will be the result of a vote of the people.
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Mistake below
Friday, June 19, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I made a mistake below. Chamberlain did vote against the needle exchange and the smoking program. Provenza joined me in opposing the expenditure of the money on the master gardener program.
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County Budget
Thursday, June 18, 2009 ::
12 Comments
I voted against the county budget today. It was a 4-1 vote. I am not happy about it. After three days of discussion and months of calling for action we finally did something and I wanted to find something I could support.
We were doing great up until about 2pm today - I was sure I was going to vote yes and we would be good to go. In the afternoon we had some money that had not been allocated that we should have saved. It was the pomona funds (about $1 million) and some cuts that were on the table. We really didn't make any of those cuts and we spent a good chunk of the money instead.
It became clear to me early in the voting process that I was going to lose on 4-1 votes and that it was going to be a complete waste of time to try and make some major changes in the programs that were presented.
Here are some of the reasons that I voted no ---
1) We are spending $20,000 on a master gardener program through the UC Co-op extension. This program has about 100 people in it I guess. Good for them. However, in a time when we are cutting so much stuff they can run a class at Woodland Community College, they can form a club, or they can read a book on gardening. It just does not seem right to keep this money in the budget when we are cutting out district attorneys.
2) We are spending more than $100,000 on smoking cessation programs from Pomona funds. I have never smoked anything. However, stats show that these programs are not doing much to stop smoking unless someone really wants to quit. We should have saved this money.
3) The needle exchange program is in there for another $100,000. I decided not even to argue on this one. Even Chamberlain supports this so I decided just to let it go. This is the single most objectionable thing to me in the entire county budget.
4) The reserve is too small. The state is about to pummel us. When that happens we are going to have started spening according to these numbers and the rate of expenditure will be too quick. Then we will have to make even deeper cuts. We should have had $2-3 million in immediate reserves to handle the state money that will be lost later this summer.
5) We did really not do much to re-structure county government. We are not taking advantage of a good crisis. We let out some air out of the tires that we will try to pump right back in when times are better. The problem is that this may not occur for a couple years.
6) In then end I would have liked to move quite a bit of money from some of the social program toward the law enforcement programs but realized that if it was just going to be a bunch of 4-1 votes then why waste everyone's time.
I guess we will continue with this process again later this summer when we take this money away.
Several staff people like Pat Leary and the analysts in the CAOs office worked very hard on this process. I am thankful for their efforts but I think the board simple spent too much money today when we should have saved money.
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Budget Hearings
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 ::
1 Comments
The budget hearings were not much fun today but we went over three departments for the first time. Lots more to do tomorrow.
When the folks came up to talk about an investigation I really thought the comments were great right up until Al Rojas walked up the podium. The comments this guy made about people in the military are offensive. I am not a fan.
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Senator Ensign should go
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Senator Ensign of Nevada should leave public office. He not only had an affair, he has an affair with one of his government employees. Further, he had an affair with the wife of one of his employees.
Hit the road pal. We can do better.
When Congressman Barney Frank was found to have a romantic relationship with one of his employees I thought he should hit the road too.
If it is good for Frank it is good for Ensign.
The standard needs to be set higher and you don't meet it Senator -- hit the road.
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This was my favorite note lately
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 ::
0 Comments
The note below reminded me of my favorite e-mail of the budget discussions we have had ---
I can't stand you or your policy positions on marriage equality, the needle exchange program, or the re-entry facility. That being said, I find myself cheering when you talk about the county budget and anything having to do with law enforcement. You have been a constant voice of reason on the budget. I'm actually going to vote for you and want a sign in my lawn.
How can you beat that?
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A nice note of confidence
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I was not having much fun today in the budget hearings but came back to my computer this afternoon to find this note on this site ---
I have recently moved to Woodland. I am a beneficiary of the Woodland Affordable Housing Program with a new KB Home just off Heritage Parkway. I have watched Matt over the last few months as this budget crisis has been addressed. I feel Matt has been the only B.O.S. member willing to make and say the hard things which need to be said and done. It seems to me that there are other B.O.S. members who are more concerned about keeping their B.O.S. position and afraid to make the unpopular hard choices which might jeopardize that position.
I don't post this to make fun of my fellow Supervisors but I do seem to be getting quite a few e-mails from county employees that express this sentiment.
Note: This person actually called me "Max" instead of Matt but that is ok.
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Williamson Act - another round
Monday, June 15, 2009 ::
0 Comments
According to an e-mail I just got from CSAC the Budget Conference Committee took action to suspend the Williamson Act for one year. That saves them about $35 million. To Yolo County that is a big deal. A really big deal.
The hole for tomorrow just got bigger.
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Budget Tomorrow - we will see
Monday, June 15, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Tomorrow the Board of Supervisors will convene at 11am to start our budget hearings. We are scheduled to go for three days.
We will see.
What I find interesting is that people have commented very little about the budget. It may be because folks have accepted that all local governments are in bad financial shape. It may also be that people don't care. I actually think it is because the Board of Supervisors has not really had a hearing on the overall budget cuts. Tomorrow that begins.
The good thing about the way we are doing it is that we are going to sit down and focus on the issue tomorrow.
The bad part about it is that the changes are going to come about very fast and a program for next year could simple disappear with three votes in the final 30 seconds of the hearings.
All the chips are on the table.
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The cost of the march
Monday, June 15, 2009 ::
1 Comments
I was shocked to learn today that the march that happened two Saturdays ago cost the taxpayers of Woodland $7,000 in overtime within the police department.
That is not worth it.
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Uh oh Mr. Rojas
Friday, June 12, 2009 ::
3 Comments
So I was not at "the march" last Saturday night on Gum Avenue. I don't do marches.
The other night on the Vanguard radio show I challenged Mr. Rojas' comments in the newspaper about his quote wanting to change Woodland.
Now that I have spoken to multiple people that were there -- they all claim that he said he was going to "change Woodland."
Further, he represented that people from his organization had invited leaders like Cirenio Rodriguez to his meetings. Dr. Rodriguez says that is was not the case.
So on one side I have a guy from Sacramento claiming one thing and telling us the reason he has standing to make such comments is because it is the same as my service in Iraq in 2003. The other side is the Rojas quote in the newspaper by the most experienced journalist in Woodland, a blog entry by a County Board of Education Trustee and friend refuting the claims of Mr. Rojas, statements from a guy standing right next to Mr. Rojas as he spoke last Saturday, and a cop that was there providing security.
I think I will go with my Woodland contacts on this one. It really wasn't close but I had to at least think about it.
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Vanguard Radio from last night
Thursday, June 11, 2009 ::
2 Comments
Please take a listen to this radio show from last night on Vanguard radio. About 30 minutes into this show I call in to challenge Mr. Rojas on his representations regarding Woodland.
After listening to this exchange before and after I got on the phone I have to tell you that my view of Mr. Rojas is even further diminished. For him to compare his coming to Woodland over this incident to my service in Iraq is completely unacceptable.
This guy is not a good representative of his cause.
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Milk -- the movie
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Last night Jenn and I finished watching the movie Milk with Sean Penn. What a movie.
I completely agree with my friend Jim Ross in his observations of movie and how it looks at politics. This is one of the best political movies ever.
Read Jim's thoughts here.
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Follow up on march from Saturday
Monday, June 08, 2009 ::
1 Comments
As a result of my post below several people have sent me some valuable information.
1) I guess Al Rojas knows quite a few of the people in Woodland that most of us would consider leaders in the Latino community. Guess how many of them he has called about this. Zero. That tells me volumes. This is not about changing Woodland. This is about Al Rojas.
2) Several meetings are going on with respected people in the community that happen to be Latino. They are having good discussions about the facts and not making comments about our Sheriff or marching with signs ripping our District Attorney.
3) None of the people organizing this event on Saturday were from Woodland. This also speak volumes. Rojas is going around shooting his mouth off about how he is going to change Woodland yet he does not plan on involving anyone from this community.
Tell you what Mr. Rojas -- I will start taking your suggestions for how to change Woodland when you move here and you start being interested in how I might change the AFL-CIO.
Not only are these guys losing the war with the people of Woodland -- they are not even fighting the battle in the right place.
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Digital Storytelling Project
Monday, June 08, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Note: I rarely put in news releases but I think this one if kind of cool.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Beth Gabor, Public Information Officer
June 4, 2009
(530) 666-8042 [w] ▪ (530) 219-8464 [c]
Digital Storytelling Project
(Woodland, CA) – On Friday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m., the Yolo County Esparto Regional Library Branch, in partnership with RISE, Inc., will be hosting a screening of the California of the Past Digital Storytelling Project. This will be an opportunity to view digital recordings of personal memories and stories, past and present from members of the Esparto, Madison and Capay Valley communities. The screening will be held at the Esparto High School Auditorium located at 17121 Yolo Avenue in Esparto.
This ongoing project has been made possible through a grant provided by the California State Library. The goal of the project is to help residents of the Esparto, Madison and Capay Valley communities tell a story of particular importance from their own life, and to illuminate pieces of California history. The June 19 screening will be screening those stories told to date. Yolo County Library staff is still available to help residents develop their stories and create videos complete with photos, documents, music and credits. Participants in the project will receive a free DVD of their three to five minute (approximately 200 words) story upon completion, and their story will be posted on the California of the Past Web site: www.DigitalStoryStation.com.
“Personal stories can be about an event, a person, a place or a family story,” said Yolo County Librarian Patty Wong. “This is a fabulous way to keep Yolo County history alive.”
“Yolo County has such a rich history,” said Yolo County Board of Supervisor Chair Mike McGowan. “I hope many of our long-time residents will contribute to the Digital Storytelling Project by sharing their stories with all of us.”
California of the Past is supported in whole, or in part, by a California State Library grant supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum & Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian with services provided by MEDIA ARTS Center San Diego. The opinions expressed in California of the Past digital stories do not necessarily reflect the position or policies of these organizations or their partners, and no official endorsement should be inferred.
RISE, Inc., also a partner in this project, is assisting with public outreach and developing community member stories. RISE, Inc. provides social services ranging from English as a Second Language, mental health, child development, parent training, after school and summer programs and more.
To participate in the Digital Storytelling Project call the Esparto Library at (530) 787-3426. Refreshments served at the June 19 screening will be provided by the Friends of the Esparto Regional Library.
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What in the world?
Monday, June 08, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I just read this story in the Daily Democrat regarding the march on Saturday. You can read it here.
I am left with a few questions ---
1) Who is Al Rojas? I don't recall ever meeting him in my forty plus years of living in Woodland.
2) If these people are going to take shots at Sheriff Prieto and District Attorney Reisig then they certainly are not walking in with a clean slate as far as I am concerned.
3) What is the deal with the focus on the Woodland Police Department? They did a review of the case. The officers that were involved in the shooting were not Woodland PD. Woodland PD did a review and released the findings. So far I have not heard a single reasonable criticism about the methodology used in the report issued by Woodland PD.
If people don't like the process, fine. Attack the process. Don't go attacking Woodland PD for doing their job.
4) Change Woodland? What in the world? It might be helpful if you were from Woodland.
From my point of view these folks are hurting their cause.
I was kind of leaning toward the state sponsored probe as mentioned in the Democrat editorial the other day. Now my feelings are more along the lines of -- "I am not going to have some guy from outside Woodland tear this community apart for his own glory. Pound sand."
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In case you were wondering....
Sunday, June 07, 2009 ::
1 Comments
Lately I have been getting the same question a couple times each week. People ask "how do you deal with all of the angry people?" It is actually pretty easy. Let me tell you why.
When I first got elected to the Woodland City Council I was determined to work as hard as I possibly could to make people happy and have people like me. In the election I got more votes than Neal Peart largely because he had been forced to make some tough decisions that I had not been forced to make yet.
I was in the process of figuring all of this out when I got activated to go to Kuwait/Iraq. When I was overseas I really didn't think about much having to do with local politics.
So when I got back something appeared very clear to me. The same small group of people that was unhappy before I left for the war were still unhappy when I got back. Same people just upset about a different issue and had been upset about several others while I was gone. I was never going to make them happy because they were never going to be happy. So I just wrote them off.
95% of the people in Woodland are happy. When they call I bust my tail to try and help them solve the problem they have. I would guess 5% of the people are always unhappy. Everything is a conspiracy. Everyone is spending all their time trying to destroy them. The world is falling down on them. Taxes are too high. The sun it too bright. The noise is too loud. The traffic is too great in front of my business but at the same time we don't get enough traffic to stop at my business.......
I remember exactly where I was sitting when I figured this out. I was sitting right next to Martie Dote in a City Council meeting when one of the merry band of perpetual unhappy people was at the podium. This person said something to the effect of "all you people do is work to make my life difficult. This item on the agenda is all I have eve asked of my city government." Right.
It is not about them. I am much more effective in terms of getting things done in this community by ignoring the 5% of the people that will never be happy. Actually, it is empowering. I realize they dislike me. I realize that they write bad things about me.....and I just don't care.
I ask to be judged by if I move the rock from point a to point b. I don't want people to say he really tried hard or he really gave it his all trying to move it or he was just matched against too big of a rock. Moving the rock is what I am doing.
It would be great if everyone was happy when the rock gets to point b. But that is not going to happen so I am not going to spend any time hoping for the impossible.
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State Lands Commission in Yolo
Friday, June 05, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Thanks to the man from Hungry Hallow for forwarding me this information on a project that will run dozens of miles a gas lines in Yolo County.
You can read more about it here.
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No way -- the dice man
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 ::
0 Comments
No way. Andrew Dice Clay is coming to Yolo County.
He is coming to Cache Creek on June 13th. More here.
I need to plan a date with my wife -- and that one is not going to be it.
Seriously -- I have not thought about this guy in years. Amazing.
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Big news from today
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 ::
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The big news from the Board of Supervisors meeting today was the County CAO Sharon Jensen will retire this summer.
Sharon was great to work with. I am sorry to see her go.
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Statement of the Vote - May 19th
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 ::
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The final Yolo County results for the May 19th election came to me in the county office from Freddie Oakley in her statement of the vote.
Yolo County voted in a higher percentage for the first five measures but still voted them all down. 80.6% voted in favor of 1F.
Turnout by Supervisor districts was --
1st -- 27.8%
2nd -- 28.8%
3rd -- 28.7%
4th -- 35.2%
5th -- 34.1%
Nothing really stood out on this set of numbers for me.
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TANC in Davis
Monday, June 01, 2009 ::
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The Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) came to Davis tonight at the request of Supervisor Provenza and I believe the Davis City Council. The meeting was at the Veteran's Memorial Hall in Davis from 6:30-9pm.
I found out about the meeting late this afternoon and felt compelled to attend.
Several people made some great comments. Matt Williams, Allan Robertson, and Jim Provenza were especially good.
None of them hit the issues that I am most hacked off about so I decided to speak. I never do that at meetings like this.
TANC is made up of Alameda, Lodi, Lompoc, Modesto Irrigation District, Biggs, Palo Alto, Plumas-Sierra REC, Gridley, Redding, Roseville, SMUD, Healdsburg, Santa Clara, Turlock Irrigation District, and Ukiah. All that is lovely but none of these entities are from Yolo County.
I shared Mr. Robertson's and Provenza's views that we have no accountability here. They have a legislatively granted eminent domain power in Yolo County that we can only hold our Assemblymembers and Senator accountable for. That is not right to give the people of Biggs a greater voice in eminent domain in Yolo County than any of our residents.
Three proposals have been made for the paths of the lines across Yolo County. Two of them run just west of the Sacramento River. Great. If SMUD wants this then run the lines on the east side of the river right through SMUD territory that is just a few hundred yards from the proposal in Yolo County.
Finally, this is another example of Yolo County being punished for their land use decisions of the past. These corridors exist because we have not developed these areas. So as a result we get stuck with flood water, habitat mitigation, and now power lines that Sacramento does not want.
Have to tell you I am not impressed with TANC at all.
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