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| Written by Jennifer Wadsworth | |
| Tuesday, 22 July 2008 | |
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But given the benefits such an addition would provide to The information session took place in a downtown restaurant with an across-the-street view of the 44 acres of undeveloped land that is the city center.
A state judicial authority found courthouses statewide in
need of $11 billion in upgrades,
“It’s old, it’s rotted,” he narrated. “It’s not pretty.”
Garamendi afterward chided city officials for doing nothing,
outside a few conversations, to put She touted a full-service south county seat as an example of what she wants for the Bow Tie area, a swath of railroad land between Fourth and Sixth streets where the city recently broke ground for a $12 million transit hub. “The alternative is not acceptable,” she said. “We can’t let it lay as a brown field in the middle of our city.” Legal industry is a perfect example of what the downtown needs, she suggested — a trifecta of government services, jobs and retail shops.
The vision “is absolutely, completely compatible with plans
for the Bow Tie,” she said hours before the meeting, naming For Mayor Brent Ives to argue otherwise, as he did in a recent story, shows “a complete lack of understanding of the city’s general plan,” she added. Ives warned last week that a courthouse on the former railroad land, with its resulting flurry of business-hours activity, might not be the best asset for Tracy's downtown, because it would not contribute to the area's nightlife.
Even if that $11 billion bill passes, funding would be limited, so cities would need to sell themselves by offering what he called “economic opportunity,” which he said includes offers of land, money or public-private partnerships to make the limited pool of state money go farther.
He used
If the state chooses another city,
That means
“This is a train that is not going to stop for us,”
Garamendi said before the evening talk. “ Otherwise, she said, the city of 82,000 will continue to build outward, instead of develop its core. “We don’t want to be a commute center,” she said this afternoon. “We want to be a job center. (A courthouse) will push us in that direction.” • To reach Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth, call 830-4225 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Comments
(251)
 written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Celeste Garamendi,
Have you ever seen a courthouse in a "pretty" part of town? Please lose the pipedream, please !?! Will not buy it! We need a more dense/green villiage/community downtown, with nice shopping and condo/apartments above the shoppes! It needs revitalizing. Not drug addicts, prostitutes, speeding-tickets, County Jail Vans, Messy Divorces in our Downtown. People from the Southside will have two choices??? 1. Go downtown for dinner and a movie! 2. Go downtown for divorce and a prostitute??? Doesn't make sense to me. Haven't you ever been to a courthouse before? Why would you want that in OUR downtown? I know it is an empty field, but this seems like a night mare for our downtown and I think it will kill the much needed revitalizaiton that we ALL want!!! Hope that helps! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 Pleaes! Move it over when the move the DMV office too. written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 Or just .... Put it where the DMV office is, after the DMV moves! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 Sheeeeeeeeeesh! I'm not even running for Mayor! Shouldn't YOU have thought of these things yourself??? written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 Sorry! Just a private citizen. Expressing my concerns.  written by Tom Benigno , July 23, 2008
To whom it may concern:
I am a little concerned about Judge Murray making the comment that we need six more Republicans in the assembly to pass this bill. Especially after stateing he was not there to support any candidates, but did mention that 26th district Assembly member R- Greg Aghazarian,is on board on this deal. He also said 10th district Assembly member Alan Nakanishi, was not commenting on the issue. The SB-1407 Drafted by D(Perata) would have support from both sides of the house and Senate membership. t. b written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 I sure hope you were "open and transparent" enough to bring all these counter-viewpoints up last night? ????????????? Thanks!  written by amy , July 23, 2008
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1099213.html
low income housings and crime rate. Happens all across USA. Interesting info. -amy written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Tom Benigno,
I'm a little concerned about Judge Murray even being there. Celeste Garamendi's husband too! Very concerned about this and the article said she criticized the City! Did the Judge support that too??? OMG!!! written by amy , July 23, 2008
Just one comment, just thinking allotment of funds for grand scheme of things.... and the teachers got laid off. Is that "justice"? No pun intended.
Good luck with this one, not even going to bother with this. Obstructs will "flock" here, soon, anyway! Maybe even kill the article like they did with Hites article? -amy written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Tom Benigno,
Can you click your heels and make it all go away? Wake me when the pipedream is over!!! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 Sure glad I didn't share a booth with Garamendi at the Fourth of July picnic in Lincoln Park!!! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Malcolm,
Can you call PGE? Ask them to find a pipe so we can put this pipedream away quietly??? Thanks! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Maybe that could be a sustainable job. Hire more police to chase prostitutes, drug-addicts, speeder-violators, basket-divorce-cases through OUR downtown1?!
Seeing some red-flags here. Not seeing this the same way as Macolm and Garamendi. Wonder when we will get the "transparency"??? written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Judge Murray,
What the hell were you thinking!?! This is a downtown that needs revitalization! Please DON'T do this to OUR downtown !?! And what happened to "informational purposes only"? OMG!! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 I wonder how much money people in the Southside will lose after they put a courthouse in their backyard??? Aren't there houses there that are empty. Driving around I saw three of them. Brown grass in the fields (I mean front yards). So what do we do here? Move the brown fields from the Bowtie to the adjacent neighborhoods??? This "idea" doesn't make sense to me! Any thoughts??? written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 Couldn't we put a village shoppes there instead? Nice Transit Station so 75% of the Tracyites can commute to work. People like dense communities. Not dense ideas! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 Nappic, Just thought of an idea: "Putting prostitutes inside the Bowtie Triangles" Can you use it??? written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Hope you are reading this! Stop by and see what you think first! Thinking it is nuts, myself! Hope we see eye to eye. Not forehead to forehead as others have said. Bring cigars! Thanks!  written by what? , July 23, 2008
TRN,
The location of our current GANG WAR is 6th street.... The area is a major crime element. Are you saying that this area is a safe for a family? How do you know that there are prostitutes downtown? written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 Bring us Village Shoppes to the Bowtie! Not another courthouse idea!!! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
To the blogger known as "what?":
You just described the need for "revitalization" of our Downtown! That is precisely why we DON'T need a courthouse in the middle of our downtown. I can't think of one town where people want to live near the courthouse. Can you think of one? Perhaps they can build condos inside AKA: Jail Cells (or Holding Cells)? Would that be nice place for families??? written by amy , July 23, 2008
Few questions for you TRN, since the city is going "green", and more locals are using/or turning to bikes for transportation,
how safe will it be to ride the bike around the village, green town(?) with a courthouse there? Wouldn't that increase traffic with the clients, prisoners, offenders and so on? Would the residents feel safe knowing there is a jail close by? Just wondering about the scenario, don't care about the stupid courthouse anymore. Still thinking about the teachers and students who could benefit from it, but no? -amy written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
To the blogger known as "what?":
Why didn't YOUR favorite candidate think of this? And don't tell me she isn't YOUR favorite candidate. You follow me around like a lost puppy, on here with pro-Garamendi sentiments and pseudo-support for YOUR candidate. Then you tell me that you don't support Garamendi! what??? I'm not buying the forty two million dollar pipedream either! Tell YOUR favorite candidate to make us want to vote for her! IMHO Cheers! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
amy,
I feel that I have a lot more concerns about this than Garamendi is letting on. I think this was a Dog and Pony show, last night. I can't for the life of me figure out why Judge Murray and Mark Connolly were there? Isn't that a conflict of interest? And Judge Murray said in an earlier article that he would be there for "informational purposes only". Why wasn't he sitting in a chair in the audience collecting information then. Feeling a little duped by our candidate who claimed promises of "open transparent effective leadership"! Some may have the perception that the Judge may have been GIVING OUT "informational purposes only"!?! I certainly wondered about that one. There are simply too many question marks being raised about other courthouse ideas and I'm not sure if we ever got the answers. At least I haven't heard the answers on here, from the blogger named "what?" (ironic name - given that he gives no answers) and Malcolm. So my first objection would be that I (and I hope others) are wondering why this was even hatched before other questions were answered. written by what? , July 23, 2008
Nice try TRN - Just because your Brent Ives lap dog and campaign smear team, dont try to tie me to any candidate.
You assume because you use this blog to promote Brent Ives agenda and campaign others like me do the same. FALSE - It is just you that is guilty of the outright Favoritism! Not me... Dont have a favorite - Just wont support yours! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
My second objection would be that I cannot recall a town with a nice neighborhood around a courthouse. I don't know of any towns were people (families) want to live in the neighborhoods around courthouses. I cannot see it being safe in that neighborhood or the downtown area, especially at night.
It is already getting a bad reputation. Read the comments from the blogger named "what?". He mentions crime in the area. And look at why Judge Murray wants to bring the courthouse here to begin with:
I think this pipedream was doomed from the beginning. I just don't know why the author of the courthouse idea didn't think of these concerns herself. If she did, can she share these concerns with us? Transparently? And why is she not talking about the other courthouse ideas? This voter wants to know!!! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
what?
Still not buying it! Not buying YOUR candidates forty two million dollar courthouse idea! Or your idea that you JUST DON'T LIKE MY IDEAS! Just tell YOUR favorite candidate to give reasons why we should vote for her! Don't think we're seeing it, here! Thanks! written by amy , July 23, 2008
So, it begins, the "saga" continues.
Good luck "informing" the voters. -amy written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
no problem amy.
I state my objections to this idea. Others will personally attack me. You always stick to the issues. Have a good day! Gotta go for now too! Will check back later to read the personal attacks against me, from the obstructs who follow me from article to article with not little to say about issues.  Cheers! written by what? , July 23, 2008
TRN,
I dont give a flying flip if you cant accept my answer or not . You are back to your OCD ways and think your views and opinions are the end all be all! Take your meds, get a life! What I say or when you get a direct answer from me, you lack the comprehensive skills to understand it anyway - Why waste my time!  written by Malcolm , July 23, 2008
Skippy
Were you there? If not, it's all speculation and BS on your part written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Malcolm,
"ALL" speculation and BS??? Wasn't that the problem with the courthouse ideas to begin with? But, where does that fit into the picture? Does it make the concerns of others who don't think the same way, just go away? People want "open and transparent" answers. And they may not feel that it is speculation to ask if you can find a city with a courthouse where people want to LIVE near? I lived in the downtown section of a major US city. Now, what's your speculation??? written by Malcolm , July 23, 2008
If you want answers why didn't you go and ask your questions?
 written by Dale Cose , July 23, 2008 written by Malcolm , July 23, 2008 I was. "Skippy" commented accurately. After the Judge made the comment that one of the benefits would be social service agencies, I later asked him if having support agencies were a good idea in the downtown. Judge Murray responded with, I'm not here to answer those types of questions. Then why make the point that social service agencies would be of a benefit? The judge was there to give Celeste Garamendi political support. Some of the other examples of having a courthouse downtown that were not cited- Stockton & Fresno. Stable businesses because of patron security perceptions is a major issue at both locations. Will downtown Tracy be any different with the introduction of felony trials involving the need for tight security? Celeste stated that one of the ways the City could acquire land would be to condemn it. Check with the City. Staff said years ago that the Redevelopment Agency gave up the right of condemnation to get the West Valley Mall going. Should a new court come to Tracy locate it with other government buildings or in an area by itself.  written by maybenotdumBcommenT , July 23, 2008 written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 PG&E uses poles and wires. Didn't you mean a plumber, speaking politically correct of course? TRN, nobody follows you around. You happen to get there first is all. I've gotten there first before to and didn't put any comment down. Just waited for the obstructs to tell us the right way it should be. written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Malcolm,
Ah! That's a valid question. First, I couldn't attend the meeting due to conflict of scheduling with other more important matters. Second, I already have a better plan and I don't think she would have appreciated if I walked in there asking questions. I also don't think that Judge Murray should have been there. Can't see any example of a thriving neighborhood with a courthouse in the middle of it. Don't like lunch with armed gaurds and metal detectors as I am not a rich, elite, fat-cat either. And I don't like the idea of bringing all the rif-raff into our downtown. Truck them in by the County Jail Van, fool of them, if you want. And Stockton crime is a LOT higher than ours; while they also have multiple times the courthouses than we do. If you want to spillover crime from Stockton County courts, then I am simply asking to put it somewhere else than the Downtown Bowtie district. (the area in our downtown by the RR tracks and North of the Southside, that looks like a Bowtie from the helicopter). That's for Arnold! When he comes to take a look. Put a village shopping center in the downtown! Not another courthouse idea! That's what I'm talking about. Thanks! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Malcolm,
How will Celeste Garamendi acquire the land? Where are example of families who want to live near a courthouse? Why did Judge Murray speak? If he really couldn't speak??? I have other questions too... written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Judge William Murray,
What the hell were you talking about?
And why would Downtown Tracy, CA want THAT??? written by Malcolm , July 23, 2008
I think Cose should concern himself with where we could put his slumhouse. It's okay for the city to condemn it for him to build condos though.
There ARE other government buildings downtown ... City Hall, Firestation, Multifmodal, Police Station. written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Condos ! Now you're thinking.
Give the downtown a village shoppe feel, IF you want to revitalize it??? That was the goal? Right? ??? written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 If revitalization is the goal, put a village shopping area downtown (maybe some condos). Make people want to live there. Not many people want to live near a courhouse. Sure it is productive, but in a different way. Not productive for families. Put the courthouse where the DMV is. Or elsewhere.  written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
All
Some of you have commented if you were not there you didn’t know what was actually said or going on. Well I was there and do know what was actually said and what actually went on so here it is. Regardless of what has been printed in error by the Tracy Press, the actual attendance, counted twice, was precisely 58 people. By counting introductions, by Mark Connolly, the count can be broken down to 15 lawyers, 3 Judges or former judges who admittedly are lobbing the project according to Judge Murray. Also in attendance was South County Supervisor Leroy Ornalis, City Counsel Member Irene Sundburg who was named as a sponsor for the event, Celeste Garamendi and her husband Mark Connolly. Tom Benigno former candidate for the South County Supervisor’s seat in the last election was present, 3 members of the Tracy Press including Bob Matthews. Additionally Carole Dominguez, Larry Gamino who was recognized as a candidate for City Counsel in the upcoming election and a named supporter of Celeste Garamendi for mayor. Then there was Mike Maciel who stood close to me and is a Candidate for City Counsel but was simply gathering information and not supporting Celeste for Mayor, Don and Dale Cose and myself. I am sure I have left people out as that only adds up to 32 people. So that leaves 26 other people, some of who I recognized as supporters of Celeste and what ever companionship others brought with them to attend the event. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
After a late start, approximately 5:15 PM, the show started off with Mark Connolly who did the recognition of all of his lawyer colleagues, supporters of the event and the hosts of the event. He also thanked the owners of the restaurant for providing the space, which must have cost them dearly as the place was cleared of all normal restaurant patrons.
Mark also mentioned that Judge Murray, the main speaker, was not endorsing any political candidate or possible location of the proposed South County Courthouse. I kind of felt this was rather strange given over a third of the participating audience were comprised of attorneys, Celeste’s main campaign thrust seemed to specifically promote and endorse the Tracy Bow-tie as a location and Judge Murray did seem to be a little uncomfortable giving his speech at a political campaign announcement meeting. Following Mark’s introductions he introduced his wife, Celeste, and she gave a short speech with what I would call a lot of pie-in-the-sky statements and very little in the way of an organized plan by which she would see to it this facility be built in Tracy. Instead of being a Mayoral campaign, the entire meeting seemed to be nothing more than a Democrat Party strategy session to convince the Assembly in Sacramento to muster a 2/3s vote necessary to pass a Capital-Outlay Project to be Funded by State Assembly Member Perata’s bill, currently on the floor for discussion and vote, entitled SB 1407. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
This bill doesn’t have to have voter support and, according to Judge Murray who is lobbying for its passage, the Governor will sign it into law if passed.
If passed, the bill will provide approximately 11 Billion dollars to fund the statewide court system and San Joaquin County will receive monies from the fund based on the following priorities; 1.The Stockton courts, which will eliminate the current courts and build new facilities in the Hunter Square area on property donated to the court by the City of Stockton to ensure the State court business for San Joaquin County stays in Stockton. 2.The South County Court project, which will obtain approximately 42 million dollars if SB 1407 does pass the assembly and will not get any state funding if it does not pass. 3.A court at the French Camp facility which apparently already has funding. Judge Murray’s talk was very informative and explicated clear all of the court projects, by law, are State courts, not county courts, but each county region is responsible for their construction. He furthermore made it clear the eventual selection of the South County Court project will be made by the Administrative branch of the State court system based on criteria regarding the best deal the state can make having several cities in the nearby area compete through grants and gifts of land and facilities that will be used by the courts servicing those areas. In other words, current competition for the South County Court project are Lathrop, Manteca and Tracy but does not eliminate other cities in the South San Joaquin County area. He also stated the eventual selection criteria to be met by the winning community would take into consideration things like; Economic incentive. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
Economic Incentive, boiling it down to the basics, looks like it’s, what can we get for free from the various Cities competing for the court’s business, which may bring up to 200 jobs to the wining city’s area.
Other criteria, for the selection process, takes into consideration of things like visibility, condition of surrounding residential neighborhoods, ease of access, supporting amenities to service the needs of prospective Felony Court jurors serving in the courts, such as restaurants and cafeterias, near by shopping, parking, entertainment and public transportation. But perhaps the most illuminating features of the Judges presentation deals with the fact that, if the bill passes the assembly, construction of the South County Court project would commence in 2015 and that assumes the Stockton Courts can be vacated and reinstalled in their new facilities sometime in 2013. And before anything can be done, first the aged portable buildings currently used by the court in Tracy and Manteca need to be replaced, consuming approximately 4.8 Million Dollars to accomplish that phase of the overall project. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
Another interest to consider, which must really be important as the Judge reiterated it four successive times during his presentation, is that the Administrative Department of the State Court system, the people who will ultimately decide where to place the South County Court project, is heavily keyed to how much the winning city is willing to give to the State Court system in land and other amenities to make the best possible deal they can.
Pardon me if I digress a bit but doesn’t that sound very much like the bidding war fiasco with San Joaquin Delta Community College as they attempted to place Tracy against Mountain House with the facility being selected to go into the Mountain House location only to end up in the political mess the community of Mountain House and the board of San Joaquin Community College finds itself into today? But really, that is a different issue and does not pertain to courts, even though all of this seems to center around politics and how these decisions can impact our communities today. For Tracy, instead of using the present site for the new portable unit which will come before any other new construction takes place anywhere, the Agricultural Commissioner Office site will have the new mobile unit installed there. At the end of the judge’s informational only and non-political discussion, which to me seemed to be a Democrat Party lobbyist strategy session in that several reluctant Republican Assembly members still have not given their support to the passage of SB 1407 and were identified by name with suggestions attendees place a little political pressure on them to vote for the bill, questions from the audience were fielded. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
I am very pleased Tom Benigno has already commented about this and in this I do agree with him on this particular observation of his.
One question asked if the governor in fact will sign the bill into law if it passes. The answer was an emphatic yes. Another question asked about how best to contact the assembly members who have still not made up their minds. Finally, after patiently holding up my hand and patiently waiting to ask my question, Celeste stood up, looked me squarely in the eye and stated to the audience that we needed to refrain from other questions and could ask questions later after the meeting was over. Not desirous of being ignored I asked her directly if I was going to be allowed to ask my question or if I was going to be intentionally ignored. My impression is that somewhat reluctantly I was allowed to ask the judge, given the scope of the South County Court project you have just described, do you have any idea as to the amount of acreage will be required to allow it to happen. His answer was no. After the judge sat down Celeste went back into her campaign mode and indicated, without any plan as to how to make it happen, Tracy should build a light rail system extending from the ACE train platform to the bow-tie transportation hub and ending somewhere in the Mountain House area. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
She made several references to the public transportation systems servicing the courts in downtown San Jose and specific comparisons of Tracy to Redwood City California which has similar public transportation services already in place to that of San Jose.
Ok, what does all of this boil down to? In my opinion it seems the citizens of Tracy are being asked to place their money on the come line of a casino crap game in which they very well may loose. I am not against the courts and agree we do need better facilities than what we currently have. But when looking into something that might happen in 2015 if SB 1407 passes in its current form, and if the administrative department of the court awards to Tracy it does seem that all of these “court” plans are a little premature and may not actually be best for the citizens of Tracy or the citizens of the South San Joaquin County area. In point of fact I believe, to service the citizens of our county locating this facility in Lathrop or Manteca may actually be a better more centralized location. But that is my opinion and you are free to believe otherwise. Since the city does not currently own all of the bow-tie area, and that would have to be purchased before it could be given to the State in order to entice them into locating the project to Tracy, given current funding, it may be better for the City to consider the Chrisman Road location as it already owns the property and quite possibly be large enough to accommodate all of the Court’s needs. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
Another thing to consider, in the Administrative Branch department of the State Court system, is the selection criteria based on the appearance of adjoining residential neighborhoods and other economic incentives offered in the downtown section of Tracy. Neither you or I or any citizen of Tracy, the County or the State will be allowed to vote on this selection process.
So specifically what neighborhoods will be impacted the most by such a project? When considering the overall scope of the selection criteria, considering the downtown commercial section of the city, the affected area being scrutinized are Tracy Blvd to just slightly North of 11th Street, east to MacArthur, South to 6th Street and west back to Tracy Blvd. On the south side of the bow-tie area, and taking into consideration of the overall age of the homes in the area, the impact would be felt mostly by the citizens who reside East of Tracy Blvd, West along 4th Street, jump east to Evans Street, South on Evans to 3rd Street, West on 3rd to the railroad tracks, south on those tracks to Schulte, West to South Central Avenue, North on South Central to West Mount Oso Avenue, a small jog south to Schulte Road again to encompass some vacant land there and back to West Mount Oso and then West again to Tracy Blvd and back North to 4th Street. These areas were specifically identified as the point of interest that will need to be dealt with and the map circumscribing these areas was handed out at Celeste’s meeting. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
Other communities impacted, and apparently supported by Celeste, is her proposed light rail system. This system, also on the map, would extend from the Ace Station on Linne Road, North on the tracks already in place that connect to the bow-tie area and out across 11th street towards and connecting eventually with Mountain House. The other impacts to communities are along the tracks extending from McArthur and West across Tracy Blvd, Corral Hollow and beyond on that spur that currently services Owens Corning.
I must admit I have a little trouble with Celeste comparing Redwood City to Tracy as the social and economic infrastructures of the communities are demographically incompatible. Ok, this took me a long time to compose and I apologize for that. I don’t blame Tracy Press for not completely reporting all of these things but after all they are a newspaper and have limited column space. I also don’t blame people for not attending in greater numbers because I do understand they have very busy lives and it’s difficult to attend every meeting and be up to date on every issue. Even though it was plain to me that many people did not welcome my presence in this meeting I was treated with respect and was only there for the purpose of gathering information to present to all of you so that you can make informed decisions about who you feel you should support for the next Mayor of our city. I feel that all of you have every right to know what occurred and I am simply trying to fill in a lot of the gaps of information the press could not cover. Dave Hardesty written by Malcolm , July 23, 2008
Sure room for condos too and the courthouse, you know equal opportunity?
We have to REPLACE, RENOVATE AND UPGRADE all the rundown facilities and slumhouses. So then we can be proud of our City. Thanks Celeste for taking action, not just sitting & waiting like the others. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
Oh, glad I was reminded. All of this "planning" started way back in 1998 and there has been a lot of correspondence between the various cities and counselmembers with the State for a long time. So it is somewhat disingenuious to say the city has not taking action and is just sitting and waiting like the others.
The City has a very good history of renovating and modernizing the downtown area and is now to the stage where a multi-modal transportation, integral to the a plan that might get the State to place the South County Court project placed in Tracy. From my point of view to indicate or imply that only Celeste has the vision to try to do something is disingenuious and to base one's entire campaign on this one issue doesn't seem to be effective. Regardless of what was said at the meeting, the judge was presenting this information and it was preceived as a centeral and big campaign promise and it was very clear the judge was uncomfortable giving his speech at a political campaign meeting in sole support of one political candidate for mayor. While I do appreciate his information I feel he was used as a pawn and his information should have been completely free of any candidate for the entire benefit of the Tracy Community. I am not very happy with the shell and pea game that apparently was attempted. You can call a daisy a rose but in the end it's still a daisy. Dave Hardesty written by maybenotdumBcommenT , July 23, 2008
Well Dave, Thank you for taking the time to tell us all that. It was very informative. Could it be possible to say Celeste is trying to pull the wool over our eyes? As this was not her idea to begin with. hmmm. Still not voting for her, again. I really appreciate you going step by step thru all that.
written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Malcolm,
What does "sitting and waiting" imply? There is already a plan to build a Transit Station in the Bowtie. Let's not settle for another courthouse idea, that may or may not pan out till the year 2105. Build the condos we all agree on. Let's just move the courthouse to a better location. What family wants their children to play on the courthouse steps, with armed guards standing atop? And the possibility of escaped felons? Let's not go down that path of reason, please. I don't think that would look "pretty" either?
Would have to agree. Courthouses aren't place for kid's playground !! Thanks! written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Dave!
So glad that you were able to give us an inside view of what type of deal was going down. Very much appreciate the efforts! Thanks! written by Dale Cose , July 23, 2008
written by Malcolm , July 23, 2008
I thought it was nauseating written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008 Sure glad I didn't share a booth with Garamendi at the Forth of July parade/picnic! written by maybenotdumBcommenT , July 23, 2008
I didn't say I didn't like the idea of the courthouse still being built there. Nobody wants it in their backyard. 2015 is a long ways away. Not a good campaign strategy if you ask me.
written by Dale Cose , July 23, 2008 written by Malcolm , July 23, 2008. Wearing your ignorance as a badge of honor is becoming. written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
I would agree, and I also noticed that it's "becoming" a trend, on here.
written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Was just being sarcastic for Malcolm's benefit.
 (two can play) written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
maybenotdumBcommenT,
Keeping the heart healthy by doing cardio excercise. But watching Bloomberg (while excercising) and reading articles like this is having a reverse effect. written by Dave Hardesty , July 23, 2008
Yeah I figured that Malcolm would find it nausiating since transparancey with Celeste doesn't seem to be what he/she would like. People who are usually afraid for all the truth to come out usually get upset when someone else blows the cover.
I have to agree with Dale, the whole thing wasn't anything that I was comfortable about. Dave Hardesty written by Tracy RealNews , July 23, 2008
Celeste Garamendi
Another example of "open transparrent effective leadership"??? I found the other courthouse ideas to be nausiating too. I wonder if folks appreciated the sentiments that were expressed after the meeting, directed toward the city??? Well, I would like to reply to those comments (as a citizen) and these are my sentiments!
Sorry! Will not hold my nose to vote!  written by mexican4life , July 23, 2008
HOW about a mental facility?? that would do some of you some good...
 written by UCoty , July 23, 2008
I am honestly skipping the comments and will read them later, I just wanted to say that for someone who is or was a slow growth activist, this is a big change. Again, it appears that there is a hidden agenda here. I don't think a courthouse near downtown is a good idea, too much traffic and where will the locals all park when the out of towners are in court?
Pretty funny to me that some of these "legal types" are pushing this so hard. Probably looking for a shorter commute and will have nice fancy offices all at the expense of Tracy and its taxpayers. Double standards if you ask me. Let the county build this crap in Manteca. We need a better source of revenue other than legal extortion tactics. written by Dale Cose , July 23, 2008 Will Celeste also propose a new sheriff's substation to oversee security during felony cases or will it be a part of the new courthouse? written by Dave Hardesty , July 24, 2008
Dale
I suppose to attract the Administrative Department of the State Court's attention to actually get the South County Court project installed in Tracy that she's going to have to. There doesn't seem to be any other alternative because high security holding cells for people being tried for felonies is a current weak spot in the current court in Stockton. That was mentioned by the judge in the meeting. But even more; if you looked at the map and see the number of homes that will most likely have to be extensively modernized and or condemned to take care of the look of those neighborhoods, I am wondering how those residents that will be displaced will fair and equitable for them? If you look at the demographic information regarding these neighborhoods; typically most are low cost income rentals for young families in the low income bracket or elderly people who are on fixed income and also in the low income bracket. It is also a place where the first time home buyer without a high income can get started. And don't get me wrong, being in the low income bracket doesn't make these people bad or socially any different than anyone else. We already have a very serious housing problem for this sector of our society, so what happens to them? Condemn their homes and throw them out on the street? Tell them to move somewhere else? To me that those are unacceptable answers and before I would support any project, like the South County Court project given their stated criteria for winning a selection from the State, I would like to see a good solid plan on how we, citizens of Tracy, are going to handle a problem of this magnitude. written by Dave Hardesty , July 24, 2008
It's nice to sit on our lofty perches and look down on people for their social economic positions but it isn't right or the responsible and civil thing to do. These people have lives, wants, needs and desires like the rest of us and they need to have some sort of solid workable plan in place or a whole bunch of people are going to be seriously hurt.
Odd! The Democrat Party during my lifetime has always advertized itself as being the party for the "common" man. But it seems to be dominated by the extremely wealthy who are going to tax the rest of us to fix the worlds problems and fix some of those problems by throwing people out in the street by condemning the property they have lived on for years, all in the name of progress. Sorry but I have trouble with that philosophy and I am very sure the people that will be affected in all of this will have trouble with it as well. Walking into the room the other day, and listening to her speech and the speech given by the Judge, it was very easy to tell this whole thing was backed by Democrats with an agenda. The judge as much admitted this when he mentioned the few Republicans that were needed to get a 2/3rds majority to get the bill passed. Dave Hardesty |
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Thanks Celeste! Hope to see more job ideas from you.