Questioning Changes in Yamada’s Votes On Two Development Projects

The best way to start your investigation process would be to view the videotapes of the two sessions. There was substantial discussion of the policy decisions for both areas on both dates. I have a DVD of the 3/27 deliberations on the General Plan. I will view that DVD myself to see if there are clues there as well.

The best way to start your investigation process would be to view the videotapes of the two sessions. There was substantial discussion of the policy decisions for both areas on both dates. I have a DVD of the 3/27 deliberations on the General Plan. I will view that DVD myself to see if there are clues there as well.

Cabaldon’s financials are up – Mariko’s take from developers is couch change in comparison.

Cabaldon’s financials are up – Mariko’s take from developers is couch change in comparison.

Burt said…

Some days I just do not get it.

For a moment lets except the basic premise of your commentary. Yamada accepted money from a developer and changed her vote.

What at this point are you suggesting we do about it?

Vote for Yamada. A friend of our community. Someone, who will push for the ideas that the people of Davis want as well as the entire assembly district. Someone, who historically thinks the way we do. Yamada is a person that has had a large responsibility for the direction taken by Yolo County.

Vote for Cabaldon. A person we know nothing about. Drive through W.Sacramento, and look at the policies that will be implemented in the assembly district. Cabaldon is someone who thinks exactly the opposite that we do about sprawl and development. Cabaldon is a person that has supervised the last tens years of growth in his community.

I am not against reporting the facts or having those facts published. You continually comment on public officials taking a public and published stand on every issue. It is a long way to the election. Your commentaries seem more anti Yamada than pro Cabaldon, but in the real world, you are supporting Cabaldon right now.

Burt said…

Some days I just do not get it.

For a moment lets except the basic premise of your commentary. Yamada accepted money from a developer and changed her vote.

What at this point are you suggesting we do about it?

Vote for Yamada. A friend of our community. Someone, who will push for the ideas that the people of Davis want as well as the entire assembly district. Someone, who historically thinks the way we do. Yamada is a person that has had a large responsibility for the direction taken by Yolo County.

Vote for Cabaldon. A person we know nothing about. Drive through W.Sacramento, and look at the policies that will be implemented in the assembly district. Cabaldon is someone who thinks exactly the opposite that we do about sprawl and development. Cabaldon is a person that has supervised the last tens years of growth in his community.

I am not against reporting the facts or having those facts published. You continually comment on public officials taking a public and published stand on every issue. It is a long way to the election. Your commentaries seem more anti Yamada than pro Cabaldon, but in the real world, you are supporting Cabaldon right now.

Calbadon’s exuberant support from developer interests is PAY-BACK for the profits he brought them while mayor of West Sac. Yamada on the other hand,as Supervisor, has earned very few developer campaign CREDITS towards her bid for the Assembly from the powerful Yolo developer interests. Neither one’s position on future development in Yolo County will have any significant weight from the Assemblyperson’s seat. Cabaldon
is safe(in keeping developer support) to posture about supporting Davis’ control of its peripheral growth since he has now and will have,if our Assembly rep, no power in that regard.In contrast Mariko Yamada IS our Yolo Supervisor rep. Davis voters WANT to support her for Assembly but she MUST represent US as our Supervisor now.

Calbadon’s exuberant support from developer interests is PAY-BACK for the profits he brought them while mayor of West Sac. Yamada on the other hand,as Supervisor, has earned very few developer campaign CREDITS towards her bid for the Assembly from the powerful Yolo developer interests. Neither one’s position on future development in Yolo County will have any significant weight from the Assemblyperson’s seat. Cabaldon
is safe(in keeping developer support) to posture about supporting Davis’ control of its peripheral growth since he has now and will have,if our Assembly rep, no power in that regard.In contrast Mariko Yamada IS our Yolo Supervisor rep. Davis voters WANT to support her for Assembly but she MUST represent US as our Supervisor now.

This whole discussion is sooo disappointing.

I am someone who gave a small check to Supervisor Yamada in the belief that she was an ALTERNATIVE to the current crop of legislators who, like Wolk, Thompson and now Cabaldon, do not seem to be free representatives without ties to dev elopers and corporate interests.

Unfortunately, Yamada apparently didn’t get this point of her candidacy. Instead of embracing her history of being a real progressive, she has apparently listened to the Sacramento political consultant and begun molding herself into the status-quo politician.

So, what Cabaldon raised and what Mariko raised isn’t important to me, what is important is that THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. The only thing apparently left to argue is who is from HERE and who is from OVER THERE, a bit of an outsider/insider debate or the Jets vs. the Sharks. The devil we know vs. the Devil we don’t know.

There doesn’t seem to be any way to win if each election boils down to folks who are going to just try to mold themselves into the same generic fundraising business oriented machine candidates.

This whole discussion is sooo disappointing.

I am someone who gave a small check to Supervisor Yamada in the belief that she was an ALTERNATIVE to the current crop of legislators who, like Wolk, Thompson and now Cabaldon, do not seem to be free representatives without ties to dev elopers and corporate interests.

Unfortunately, Yamada apparently didn’t get this point of her candidacy. Instead of embracing her history of being a real progressive, she has apparently listened to the Sacramento political consultant and begun molding herself into the status-quo politician.

So, what Cabaldon raised and what Mariko raised isn’t important to me, what is important is that THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. The only thing apparently left to argue is who is from HERE and who is from OVER THERE, a bit of an outsider/insider debate or the Jets vs. the Sharks. The devil we know vs. the Devil we don’t know.

There doesn’t seem to be any way to win if each election boils down to folks who are going to just try to mold themselves into the same generic fundraising business oriented machine candidates.

Burt said…

davisite said…
Neither one’s position on future development in Yolo County will have any significant weight from the Assembly person’s seat.
8/1/07 8:41 AM

Future development, yes I agree. The past is all we really have to make an informed choice on.

Did Yamada make a mistake in the last few months? Yes. However, over the body of her life’s work, is she someone you would want living next to you? Is Yamada some one you would go to with a concern?

Is Cabaldon proud of the Development he has lead over the last 10 years. Yes. However, over the body of his life’s work, is he someone you would want living next to you? Is Cabaldon some one you would go to with a concern?

Does anyone know the difference between W. Sacramento and Southport? My job takes me to a lot of homes all over Yolo County. At one point I considered moving to Southport. As I did my job I began asking the people at those homes what it was like living in the City of W. Sacramento. I would estimate at least 80% corrected me by saying they lived in Southport. If you were a person that has been to as many homes in Southport and W. Sacramento as I have, you would know that there are serious problems in W. Sacramento that have not been addressed.

Burt said…

davisite said…
Neither one’s position on future development in Yolo County will have any significant weight from the Assembly person’s seat.
8/1/07 8:41 AM

Future development, yes I agree. The past is all we really have to make an informed choice on.

Did Yamada make a mistake in the last few months? Yes. However, over the body of her life’s work, is she someone you would want living next to you? Is Yamada some one you would go to with a concern?

Is Cabaldon proud of the Development he has lead over the last 10 years. Yes. However, over the body of his life’s work, is he someone you would want living next to you? Is Cabaldon some one you would go to with a concern?

Does anyone know the difference between W. Sacramento and Southport? My job takes me to a lot of homes all over Yolo County. At one point I considered moving to Southport. As I did my job I began asking the people at those homes what it was like living in the City of W. Sacramento. I would estimate at least 80% corrected me by saying they lived in Southport. If you were a person that has been to as many homes in Southport and W. Sacramento as I have, you would know that there are serious problems in W. Sacramento that have not been addressed.

This posting was in the comments section of another posting, but I think it is important to cross-post to this discussion:

Follow the Money said…

So, many people listed on her report are being associated with her Assembly Campaign even though they really gave to her supervisorial campaign a long time ago. This is what likely caused the $1,000 Machado contribution that is recorded as being made in November 2003.

Note that this doesn’t include the knights landing $1,000 check, so there probably is more from developers that a lay person wouldn’t know is developer money.

This posting was in the comments section of another posting, but I think it is important to cross-post to this discussion:

Follow the Money said…

So, many people listed on her report are being associated with her Assembly Campaign even though they really gave to her supervisorial campaign a long time ago. This is what likely caused the $1,000 Machado contribution that is recorded as being made in November 2003.

Note that this doesn’t include the knights landing $1,000 check, so there probably is more from developers that a lay person wouldn’t know is developer money.

Anonymous 10:14 is getting to something.

Look at the insurgent campaign of Howard Dean in 2004. He came on the scene in the last Presidential race because he stood for something, and drew a contrast to Kerry and Edwards in his valued positions on the war and untainted support for single-payer healthcare.

Now, imagine that four months after the surge of his campaign he started wavering on the war, saying that people needed to “take an ibuprofen” and grow up to recognize that we’re in the 21st century. Imagine that he started taking maximum contributions from pharmaceutical and health care insurance companies. We would have run him out on a rail!

Mariko set out as a Dean candidate, but now she has shown herself to be the same as Kerry. She is not an alternative to the status quo – she IS the status quo. She has built a rail, bought the ticket, and now she needs to be run out of the contest.

One of the blog postings suggested that we would have a new candidate – maybe someone from Davis or someone from Solano?

Anonymous 10:14 is getting to something.

Look at the insurgent campaign of Howard Dean in 2004. He came on the scene in the last Presidential race because he stood for something, and drew a contrast to Kerry and Edwards in his valued positions on the war and untainted support for single-payer healthcare.

Now, imagine that four months after the surge of his campaign he started wavering on the war, saying that people needed to “take an ibuprofen” and grow up to recognize that we’re in the 21st century. Imagine that he started taking maximum contributions from pharmaceutical and health care insurance companies. We would have run him out on a rail!

Mariko set out as a Dean candidate, but now she has shown herself to be the same as Kerry. She is not an alternative to the status quo – she IS the status quo. She has built a rail, bought the ticket, and now she needs to be run out of the contest.

One of the blog postings suggested that we would have a new candidate – maybe someone from Davis or someone from Solano?

actually, if we’re going to be wading through campaign donations and monied interests, i would think that looking at pharmaceutical and health insurance companies’ donations would be more pertinent for an assembly seat than development, which tends to be done more at the local and county level and thus more pertinent to a supervisor’s race.

actually, if we’re going to be wading through campaign donations and monied interests, i would think that looking at pharmaceutical and health insurance companies’ donations would be more pertinent for an assembly seat than development, which tends to be done more at the local and county level and thus more pertinent to a supervisor’s race.

“Other than receiving a campaign contribution, did anything else change between February’s vote and July’s vote and what caused Supervisor Yamada to switch from opposing both developments to supporting both developments?”

I don’t know what motivated Mariko Yamada to change her vote. However, there was a significant change that you ignored in your piece, David: the withering of the three major development proposals surrounding Davis.

It does not seem unlikely to me that once Yamada understood that none of those developments was going to move forward, she opened her mind to developments elsewhere in the county.

Having spoken with her a few times and listened to her speak publicly at other times, I have always gotten the sense from Mariko that her highest priority as a supervisor has been to generate a funding stream for the health, welfare and social services programs which the county runs. (I think Helen Thomson feels the same.) Fighting sprawl, while perhaps a goal, does not rise to that level for Ms. Yamada. And because she believes the county needs more money to fund the programs she prioritizes, she is willing to vote in favor of various developments, such as Knights Landing, if they will increase the property tax revenues for Yolo County.

If my assumption is right, then her change in vote makes sense when you consider the demise of all of the proposed developments on county land around Davis, and possibly also the demise of a revision in the pass-through agreement (which possibly could have shifted more funds to the county).

I think it’s unwise and somewhat unfair to assume that her taking campaign contributions from these developers was her primary motivation in changing her vote. It’s possible that the developers got to her by explaining the virtues of their project. But I would still guess that her change of heart was due to her belief that this development (or possibly any really large development) was in the best interests of the county and the funding for county programs.

Further, I am taken aback by those who so glibly attack Chris Cabaldon as a miscreant of sprawl in West Sacramento. Before Cabaldon took office in West Sac, very little was happening there. They had low revenues and a lot of old industrial sites sitting empty. Cabaldon has been a hugely successful politician for that city. More than anyone else, he deserves credit for revitalizing West Sac, for developing Raley Field and bringing in a lot of jobs and revenues for a poor city. I find it amazingly hypocritical of my fellow Davis residents, many of whom are wealthy and all of whom live on Class 1 ag land which was built by developers, to decry a politician from a poor community who has done so much to help his fellow residents. It is my understanding that most of the recent development in West Sac (such as Raley Field, Wal-Mart, Ikea) was built on old industrial land, not Class 1 ag land. I get the sense that some Davis people who buy $3 cups of coffee and spend 30% extra to get organic bananas at the Food Co-op have no sympathy for the poor people in communities like West Sac who need stores like Wal-Mart and Target in order to stay afloat and keep their families fed and clothed.

“Other than receiving a campaign contribution, did anything else change between February’s vote and July’s vote and what caused Supervisor Yamada to switch from opposing both developments to supporting both developments?”

I don’t know what motivated Mariko Yamada to change her vote. However, there was a significant change that you ignored in your piece, David: the withering of the three major development proposals surrounding Davis.

It does not seem unlikely to me that once Yamada understood that none of those developments was going to move forward, she opened her mind to developments elsewhere in the county.

Having spoken with her a few times and listened to her speak publicly at other times, I have always gotten the sense from Mariko that her highest priority as a supervisor has been to generate a funding stream for the health, welfare and social services programs which the county runs. (I think Helen Thomson feels the same.) Fighting sprawl, while perhaps a goal, does not rise to that level for Ms. Yamada. And because she believes the county needs more money to fund the programs she prioritizes, she is willing to vote in favor of various developments, such as Knights Landing, if they will increase the property tax revenues for Yolo County.

If my assumption is right, then her change in vote makes sense when you consider the demise of all of the proposed developments on county land around Davis, and possibly also the demise of a revision in the pass-through agreement (which possibly could have shifted more funds to the county).

I think it’s unwise and somewhat unfair to assume that her taking campaign contributions from these developers was her primary motivation in changing her vote. It’s possible that the developers got to her by explaining the virtues of their project. But I would still guess that her change of heart was due to her belief that this development (or possibly any really large development) was in the best interests of the county and the funding for county programs.

Further, I am taken aback by those who so glibly attack Chris Cabaldon as a miscreant of sprawl in West Sacramento. Before Cabaldon took office in West Sac, very little was happening there. They had low revenues and a lot of old industrial sites sitting empty. Cabaldon has been a hugely successful politician for that city. More than anyone else, he deserves credit for revitalizing West Sac, for developing Raley Field and bringing in a lot of jobs and revenues for a poor city. I find it amazingly hypocritical of my fellow Davis residents, many of whom are wealthy and all of whom live on Class 1 ag land which was built by developers, to decry a politician from a poor community who has done so much to help his fellow residents. It is my understanding that most of the recent development in West Sac (such as Raley Field, Wal-Mart, Ikea) was built on old industrial land, not Class 1 ag land. I get the sense that some Davis people who buy $3 cups of coffee and spend 30% extra to get organic bananas at the Food Co-op have no sympathy for the poor people in communities like West Sac who need stores like Wal-Mart and Target in order to stay afloat and keep their families fed and clothed.

Rich, there is a tremendous gulf between the two sides of West Sacramento, and the social issues of the northern side have entirely been ignored by Cabaldon. In fact any social concsiousness the man has is largely a result of his listening to Oscar Villegas who grew up in West Sac and better represents the city as a whole.

Unfortuntely, with the money Cabaldon commands from his Sacramento interests, Oscar has little choice but to go along with this ruling coalition.

Rich, there is a tremendous gulf between the two sides of West Sacramento, and the social issues of the northern side have entirely been ignored by Cabaldon. In fact any social concsiousness the man has is largely a result of his listening to Oscar Villegas who grew up in West Sac and better represents the city as a whole.

Unfortuntely, with the money Cabaldon commands from his Sacramento interests, Oscar has little choice but to go along with this ruling coalition.

“Rich, there is a tremendous gulf between the two sides of West Sacramento”

That is true. It was true 30 years ago. Cabaldon did not create the divide. However, as far as I know, by bringing business and development into West Sacramento, Cabaldon has not made life worse for the Borderick and Bryte sections of that city. Quite a bit of development and investment has taken place along the West Capitol corridor. I cannot see how that has not made life better for West Sac’s poorer half…. If he had focused his energies on just dealing with the various problems on the north side of that town and neglected business development and investment, the north side of West Sac would have been markedly worse off. Cabaldon, to my knowledge, has brought quite a large number of jobs to his commmunity, as well, and that is all to the good of the poorer north side…. Please correct me if that is wrong.

“Rich, there is a tremendous gulf between the two sides of West Sacramento”

That is true. It was true 30 years ago. Cabaldon did not create the divide. However, as far as I know, by bringing business and development into West Sacramento, Cabaldon has not made life worse for the Borderick and Bryte sections of that city. Quite a bit of development and investment has taken place along the West Capitol corridor. I cannot see how that has not made life better for West Sac’s poorer half…. If he had focused his energies on just dealing with the various problems on the north side of that town and neglected business development and investment, the north side of West Sac would have been markedly worse off. Cabaldon, to my knowledge, has brought quite a large number of jobs to his commmunity, as well, and that is all to the good of the poorer north side…. Please correct me if that is wrong.

Cabaldon has had an “easy ride” politically. A poor constituency, unorganized and looking for a little improvement in their life, developers at the ready to build and lavish support for him. It does look like a short term political win-win situation that he “stepped into”. The bottom line is that we KNOW that he is the developer’s candidate and we don’t have any idea where he comes down when the going get politically tough. I think that the Davis voters KNOW who Mariko IS, in spite of her temporary digression.

Cabaldon has had an “easy ride” politically. A poor constituency, unorganized and looking for a little improvement in their life, developers at the ready to build and lavish support for him. It does look like a short term political win-win situation that he “stepped into”. The bottom line is that we KNOW that he is the developer’s candidate and we don’t have any idea where he comes down when the going get politically tough. I think that the Davis voters KNOW who Mariko IS, in spite of her temporary digression.

Burt said…

Rich Rifkin said…
“Rich, there is a tremendous gulf between the two sides of West Sacramento”

That is true. It was true 30 years ago. Cabaldon did not create the divide. However, as far as I know, by bringing business and development into West Sacramento, Cabaldon has not made life worse for the Broderick and Bryte sections of that city.

Cabaldon did not create the divide, but what has he done to decrease it. All science and no philosophy?

Burt said…

Rich Rifkin said…
“Rich, there is a tremendous gulf between the two sides of West Sacramento”

That is true. It was true 30 years ago. Cabaldon did not create the divide. However, as far as I know, by bringing business and development into West Sacramento, Cabaldon has not made life worse for the Broderick and Bryte sections of that city.

Cabaldon did not create the divide, but what has he done to decrease it. All science and no philosophy?

breathing life into the Yamada campaign is about as plausible as breathing life into the Lincoln Memorial

–Richard Estes

breathing life into the Yamada campaign is about as plausible as breathing life into the Lincoln Memorial

–Richard Estes

Burt said…

Richard said…

breathing life into the Yamada campaign is about as plausible as breathing life into the Lincoln Memorial
Richard Estes
8/1/07 2:12 PM

So you are voting for Cabaldon?.

Burt said…

Richard said…

breathing life into the Yamada campaign is about as plausible as breathing life into the Lincoln Memorial
Richard Estes
8/1/07 2:12 PM

So you are voting for Cabaldon?.

“Cabaldon did not create the divide, but what has he done to decrease it?”

I don’t follow West Sac closely enough to really know the answer to this question with any certainty. However, I have three ideas:

I assume that all of the jobs he has created have benefitted the people of West Sac, including people on both sides of the divide. That would be the most important thing he has done. As JFK would have said, Cabaldon did what he could to lift all boats.

Secondly, the primary beneficiaries of those much hated (by Davis liberals) big box stores in West Sac are the poorer consumers who live north of the freeway. That would be two things to decrease the divide, making life better for its poorest people.

And third, Cabaldon’s policies and accomplishments have greatly increased the revenues to the city of West Sacramento. That money is now available to improve the welfare of their poorest souls. If Cabaldon had not pursued new business investment in his city, far less money would be available to “decrease the divide.”

“Cabaldon did not create the divide, but what has he done to decrease it?”

I don’t follow West Sac closely enough to really know the answer to this question with any certainty. However, I have three ideas:

I assume that all of the jobs he has created have benefitted the people of West Sac, including people on both sides of the divide. That would be the most important thing he has done. As JFK would have said, Cabaldon did what he could to lift all boats.

Secondly, the primary beneficiaries of those much hated (by Davis liberals) big box stores in West Sac are the poorer consumers who live north of the freeway. That would be two things to decrease the divide, making life better for its poorest people.

And third, Cabaldon’s policies and accomplishments have greatly increased the revenues to the city of West Sacramento. That money is now available to improve the welfare of their poorest souls. If Cabaldon had not pursued new business investment in his city, far less money would be available to “decrease the divide.”

Let’s start with a few questions before making statements.

1. Has it been established that he has created jobs? Has it been established who those jobs have gone to? I think there is a lot more that needs to be demonstrated to make the claim that you have made.

2. You are making the statement that Wal Mart has helped the poor consumers. I’ve seen better evidence that Wal Mart keeps prices low on a few key products that are readily distinguishable and the rest of the prices are nearly identical to everywhere else.

3. “Cabaldon’s policies and accomplishments have greatly increased the revenues to the city of West Sacramento. ” Again, evidence please. And has it increased the revenues only to be offset by the costs associated with growth. Again, you seem to be making assumptions.

Let’s start with a few questions before making statements.

1. Has it been established that he has created jobs? Has it been established who those jobs have gone to? I think there is a lot more that needs to be demonstrated to make the claim that you have made.

2. You are making the statement that Wal Mart has helped the poor consumers. I’ve seen better evidence that Wal Mart keeps prices low on a few key products that are readily distinguishable and the rest of the prices are nearly identical to everywhere else.

3. “Cabaldon’s policies and accomplishments have greatly increased the revenues to the city of West Sacramento. ” Again, evidence please. And has it increased the revenues only to be offset by the costs associated with growth. Again, you seem to be making assumptions.

my remark about Yamada was strictly a horse racing evaluation, I lived in Davis for many years, about 20, but now live in Sacramento, and we certainly have our own share of developer friendly, grandiose project politicians, like Rob Fong and Roger Dickinson (proponents of the absurd Sacramento Kings arena deal/residential development project just off of the downtown)

as for Yamada, I just don’t think that she is competitive, and that there is no way for her to become so

if the accounts here are correct, she is going to have great difficulty raising the money that she needs, and if the post about the Solano County debate was accurate, her campaign message is too muddled to generate support

Cabaldon was clearly the more focused, knowledgeable and responsive candidate

at this point, it is not really possible to characterize her campaign with anything other than, “I’m likeable, and not a machine candidate like Cabaldon”

that’s not going to get it done

running for supervisor is one thing, Assembly another, Cabaldon knows from experience, Yamada is about to learn it from her experience in this campaign

–Richard Estes

my remark about Yamada was strictly a horse racing evaluation, I lived in Davis for many years, about 20, but now live in Sacramento, and we certainly have our own share of developer friendly, grandiose project politicians, like Rob Fong and Roger Dickinson (proponents of the absurd Sacramento Kings arena deal/residential development project just off of the downtown)

as for Yamada, I just don’t think that she is competitive, and that there is no way for her to become so

if the accounts here are correct, she is going to have great difficulty raising the money that she needs, and if the post about the Solano County debate was accurate, her campaign message is too muddled to generate support

Cabaldon was clearly the more focused, knowledgeable and responsive candidate

at this point, it is not really possible to characterize her campaign with anything other than, “I’m likeable, and not a machine candidate like Cabaldon”

that’s not going to get it done

running for supervisor is one thing, Assembly another, Cabaldon knows from experience, Yamada is about to learn it from her experience in this campaign

–Richard Estes

Anonymous 4:00

This is a blog. A blog is a place for opinions and where statistics supporting those opinions are not required. If you have evidence to refute the opinion, then provide them. If not, then state your opinion in disagreement.

This is an accepted protocol here as we all know at the Vanguard factual evidence has never obstructed a good conspiracy theory.

Anonymous 4:00

This is a blog. A blog is a place for opinions and where statistics supporting those opinions are not required. If you have evidence to refute the opinion, then provide them. If not, then state your opinion in disagreement.

This is an accepted protocol here as we all know at the Vanguard factual evidence has never obstructed a good conspiracy theory.

Burt said…

Richard said…
At this point, it is not really possible to characterize her campaign with anything other than, “I’m likeable, and not a machine candidate like Cabaldon”
–Richard Estes
8/1/07 4:06 PM

She is likable, and not a machine candidate.

To me, that is a telling statement. Everyone makes mistakes, everyday of the week. I made five while I was styping this. I will choose the candidate that is not a machine.

Burt said…

Richard said…
At this point, it is not really possible to characterize her campaign with anything other than, “I’m likeable, and not a machine candidate like Cabaldon”
–Richard Estes
8/1/07 4:06 PM

She is likable, and not a machine candidate.

To me, that is a telling statement. Everyone makes mistakes, everyday of the week. I made five while I was styping this. I will choose the candidate that is not a machine.

Anonymous 4:00

I think some of your questions are reasonable. As I stated right up front, I was making assumptions.

“1. Has it been established that he has created jobs?”

I think this is clear. There has been a lot of business development in West Sac in recent years. (Exactly how much in dollar terms I don’t know.) No one in West Sac has worked harder to promote this development. The growth has resulted in both construction type jobs and retail and office jobs in the city of West Sac.

“Has it been established who those jobs have gone to?”

Again, I don’t know for certain. However, I would assume that the big growth in retail, such as at IKEA, has resulted in jobs for W.S. people. If it has not, I would be shocked.

“2. You are making the statement that Wal Mart has helped the poor consumers.”

I don’t assume that consumers are stupid. If their prices were not better, poor people would not shop at Wal-Mart. Go to any Wal-Mart and you will notice that they are mostly providing a service to lower income consumers.

3. “Cabaldon’s policies and accomplishments have greatly increased the revenues to the city of West Sacramento. ” Again, evidence please.

I don’t have the exact figures. But this one is patently obvious (if you know anything about city revenues in California). Are you aware of how many millions of dollars of business IKEA, which is a regional store, is doing? Every sale there brings in money for the city of West Sac. This is true for every major retailer who has recently opened shop in W.S.

This artice from the California Aggie says that in 2004 IKEA would bring 300 permanent jobs and $1 million in annual revenues to the city of West Sac.

“You seem to be making assumptions.”

I am. I said that up front. Please re-read my post.

Anonymous 4:00

I think some of your questions are reasonable. As I stated right up front, I was making assumptions.

“1. Has it been established that he has created jobs?”

I think this is clear. There has been a lot of business development in West Sac in recent years. (Exactly how much in dollar terms I don’t know.) No one in West Sac has worked harder to promote this development. The growth has resulted in both construction type jobs and retail and office jobs in the city of West Sac.

“Has it been established who those jobs have gone to?”

Again, I don’t know for certain. However, I would assume that the big growth in retail, such as at IKEA, has resulted in jobs for W.S. people. If it has not, I would be shocked.

“2. You are making the statement that Wal Mart has helped the poor consumers.”

I don’t assume that consumers are stupid. If their prices were not better, poor people would not shop at Wal-Mart. Go to any Wal-Mart and you will notice that they are mostly providing a service to lower income consumers.

3. “Cabaldon’s policies and accomplishments have greatly increased the revenues to the city of West Sacramento. ” Again, evidence please.

I don’t have the exact figures. But this one is patently obvious (if you know anything about city revenues in California). Are you aware of how many millions of dollars of business IKEA, which is a regional store, is doing? Every sale there brings in money for the city of West Sac. This is true for every major retailer who has recently opened shop in W.S.

This artice from the California Aggie says that in 2004 IKEA would bring 300 permanent jobs and $1 million in annual revenues to the city of West Sac.

“You seem to be making assumptions.”

I am. I said that up front. Please re-read my post.

Richrd Estes of Sacramento –

Make no mistake about it – Cabaldon knows Yamada is extremely competitive. Otherwise he would not have felt the need to bus Sacramento Young Dems in from Sacramento to the NSDC to make the crowd seem friendly at the forum.

Richrd Estes of Sacramento –

Make no mistake about it – Cabaldon knows Yamada is extremely competitive. Otherwise he would not have felt the need to bus Sacramento Young Dems in from Sacramento to the NSDC to make the crowd seem friendly at the forum.