Al Quaeda claims responsibility for the bombing of Don Imus. HA, I wish it was that simple. First of all I must confess that I very much have enjoyed watching Don Imus when I am up that early in the morning. There is nobody even remotely the same as Imus anywhere, and he will be greatly missed by his audience, myself included.

I see the REVERAND  Jacksonnnnnnnnnnnnn and Al Sharpton as being hypocrits with regard to this issue. Just last year both of them lambasted the Duke mens La Cross team in a very racial sort of way. Jackson and Sharpton have been recorded using terms such as "Cracker", "Dirty Jews", and "Heinies' in recent quotes. It seems like "The Crackers" of this world can take our abuse musch more in stride than the Jacksonnnnnnnnn/Sharpton crowd. It would be a much better world if all Bigots were created equal. 

This all reminds me of a comedy routine by Richard Pryor where a white guy and a black guy were throwing racial slurs back and forth. All the usual racial slurs were used until the black man called the white man a Honkey. The white guy then threw the N Bomb at the Black man, who responded with "Dead Honkey."

We should all grow up and quit giving these words more power than they deserve to be given. They are really only words, and should not result in someone losing his job over. Don Imus was probably just tryiing to be sarocastic with his words. Entertainers should be given some leeway with their language. We have all laughed at Robin Williams when he makes fun of the French, Japanese, Jews etc. Don Imus, I will muss you.                  Administrator 

Add Comment (0) Read More

APRIL 6, 2007

Bee Article: “The issue made its way to 5^th District Court of Appeal, but that panel declined to review the dispute.”

Response:  Please read the attachment. The DISPOSITION on page 3 states, “The Stanislaus County Superior Court is directed to reschedule a hearing on petitioner’s Order to Show Cause re Contempt. Adequate notice of the hearing is to be provided to petitioner.’

Mayor Sabatino was not provided a hearing as directed by the Appellate Court. Is Judge Stephenson in contempt of the Appellate Court?

Modesto Bee Article:  “Sabatino was not booked when prosecutors filed charges in August 2003 because he was given a day to appear in court and never was arrested.”

Response:  Sabatino was not found guilty by a jury, not arrested, and not booked,  The Modesto Bee found him guilty and Judge Stephenson wanted him booked because he did not deliver a conviction.

Judge Franklin Stephenson and the Modesto Bee were deprived of the media spectacle they had arranged.

The judge ordered a 9:00 AM booking today so that the television cameras and a Bee photographer would be present.

Court Administrator Michael Tozzi was the producer or assistant producer of this show.

Add Comment (0) Read More

                        But the real irritation comes from the comment attributed to a staffer, “The city effectively subsidizes school sewer rates…” The irresponsible bureaucrats really think the money belongs to the “City”.   They never understand it is the People’s money!!  You were told other incorrect things.  An example is the flow rates.  The Primary plant can handle 25 MGD, but the Secondary can handle an additional 40 MGD. 

                        So, Eric and I did some research and math. Since Dan Day says that he talks to both sides, and analyzes the “facts” and then tells the truth, we decided to give him the facts.  We extracted the numbers below from the city’s CAFR (Financial Report) because we want to be accurate.  I have put those numbers in columns for ease of understanding.  And, now that you have the rest of the facts, I would expect Dan to report them in the BEE.

            Fiscal Year                 Annual Operating Surplus               Total End-of-Year Unrestricted Net Assets (Cumulative)

                                                “Subtotal Profit”                               Total Actual Profits Including All Overcharges

            2002-03                       $  3,090,393                                                    $  10,600,000

            2003-04                           3,172,602                                                        18,000,000

            2004-05                           3,072,213                                                        25,000,000

            2005-06                           2,273,893                                                        30,000,000 

                        Two things should be very clear from these actual profits.  First, the city council has authorized staff to overcharge the residents of Modesto $11,609,101 in the last 4 years.  Second, that in addition to operating profits, the city realizes additional profit from builder’s fees, leases, sale of product, interest and other non-operating activities. 

                        Where then is the “subsidy”???   In fact, the city is irresponsibly over charging all of us, including the schools, churches and business.  Where are all those council people?  Will the BEE actually fulfill its promise to be a watchdog over an irresponsible and greedy city staff?

                        I also took the numbers published in that story to highlight additional facts.  I subtracted the current monthly residential fee from the increased fee as published.  I multiplied the result by 12 months and only 55,000 homes for the first 2 years and by 60,000 for the next 3 years.  That is a very conservative multiplier when you consider the city has 75,000 total water customers.  Here is what I found.

                        Year                Total Funds Attributable to the Rate Increase

2008                                                        $  2,824,800

2009                                                              8,329,200

2010                                                            14,896,800

2011                                                            15,897,600

2012                                                            16,948,800

Total               $58,897,200

                        If rates are frozen at the level of 2012, in the next 15 years, the additional increase collected will Total $254,232,000.   Add back in the $59 million collected during the first 5 years of the rate hike, you get $313,132,200!!!!  And you can bet they will not freeze the rates.

                        This staff intends to bury the People with gross overcharges and this council will let them get away with it.  The BEE story says, “Current Modesto residents are on the hook for $245 million…under a cost allocation plan the Council approved Tuesday.”  My very conservative figures show they plan to collect much more than they need!!  Note, that does not include ANY school money (another $25,781,855 just from the schools!  And just who is going to pay for that?) 

                        One can only come to the conclusion that the staff is already overcharging us for sewers, plans to continue overcharging and does not tell the BEE, or the People, the true facts.  Someone needs to bring this to the attention of the People.  This council is a total waste of time.   Thank you very much, Dave  

                                    P S  Did staff provide any written documentation of their numbers; any study, any consultant’s report?  Or, did they do the same as with the water rates, throw some rates up for discussion, and hire someone to justify them later?   We are particularly interested in the allocation ratio.  Did they show work product? 

                                    Finally, the dirty little secret is that staff plans these things around PEAK demand and PEAK flows.  The water treatment plant was built to guarantee Tri Valley Packers good water, and in the summer, they were responsible for 75% to 80% of the gross

Modesto demand.  Alan Short gave me the numbers, and he confirmed my percentages.  The packers and grape crushers, and other “wet Industries” are responsible for 65% of the peak sewage flows.  Do you think that Tri Valley or Gallo is going to pay their fair share for either water or sewer?  Of course not, the homeowners of Modesto will bear that burden.   Will Dan print that? 

                                    Dave

Add Comment (0) Read More

It is time to go to work.  The initiative and the petition are now on the www.modestodistrictelections.com

web site.

All you have to do is print the petition, collect six (6) signatures, and mail the petition to

Modesto District Elections

421 McHenry Ave.

Modesto CA 95354

or drop off your completed petition at the Mediterranean Market and Grill, 421 McHenry Ave. in Modesto.

Why not print ten or a hundred petitions?  Our e-mail is info@modestodistrictelections.com

If you intend to run for a seat on the Modesto City Council this November

we will want to know how many signatures you collected to put

District Elections on the ballot.  How much do you care?

You have the right to vote on District Elections, but it will have to be earned.

The Modesto City Council refuses to place the matter on the ballot.  They have not yet

announced their decision to carry the fight to the United States Supreme Court after

losing at the California Supreme Court.  The embarrassment of labeling Modesto

a discriminatory City will forever be in our law books.

It is time to get to work.

Add Comment (0) Read More