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| Written by Press Editorial Board | |
| Friday, 22 August 2008 | |
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Changes could come to downtown Tracy, and we’re eager to see district merchants hop on board with the proposed adjustments. If you had the choice, would you want downtown Tracy to stay as it is, or would you rather see a more vibrant city center, with more commerce, a better image and greater social value? We have a hunch there aren’t many people who would choose the first option, given the chance to improve what we have — an historic downtown that’s undergone major streetscape work on 10th Street and Central Avenue, and a downtown business organization that describes itself as stagnant, with a $40,000 operating budget and tiny tax base. That’s why we’re optimistically watching the work of a city-hired consultant from San Diego, whose company, New City America, has established 50 business/community assessment districts in California. This week, consultant Marco Li Mandri met with both downtown merchants and property owners and presented four options — to end the existing business improvement district, keep it as is, keep it and raise the fees for business owners, or replace it with a community assessment district. The last option would have everyone pay based on benefits received, generating funding that could pay for downtown management and what Li Mandri calls "public space development." It would tax residents, churches, city building and business property owners alike in a geographically based revenue system. The return could be a thriving community for shoppers, restaurant-goers, courthouse-goers, dog-walkers, business owners, coffee-drinkers, workers and residents. The key will be to convince property owners that they, too, would benefit from the improvements that could result from such an effort. We’d like to see them, along with the merchants, drive this process — for the sake of business and community. For information New City America Inc., www.newcityamerica.com Project for Public Spaces, www.pps.org Little Italy Association of San Diego, www.littleitalysd.com Trackback(0)
Comments
(34)
 written by Tracy RealNews , August 23, 2008
I prefer that Celeste Garamendi leave the downtown alone!
Perhaps she secured the endorsement of a Downtown Jail Bond business...? http://www.flickr.com/photos/inkyhack/825251792/ Hope the Tracy Press wakes up, before its too late!  written by Observer , August 23, 2008
Well, I, amy, have been blocked for four days and I think I am making someone nervous since I raised fuss about the Mococo line?
Not able to contact the "administrator" and not able to contact by e-mail, so taking up new registered name under Observer. But will end sign with -amy. If this gets blocked, too, you better take TRACY back from those who had a power play in it! I just don't see it happening in Tracy for Village Green Living with the Courthouse at downtown? With the Mococo Line being activated, will that also alter Garamendi's plans as well as maybe Ives plans for the transit station? Just going to have to wait and see. -amy written by Observer , August 23, 2008
I hope Garamendi goes to the meetings to she can better understand exactly what it is the merchants want to see happen in Tracy? All the running candidates should be fully informed, to have better start in starting up the program since they will inherit the problem of running the city if they win at election time. Seems they may not be so familiar with other options?
Still liking Green Village Living. -amy written by Tracy RealNews , August 23, 2008
Found this:
WHAT: Public transit open house WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday WHERE: Tracy Community Center, 950 East St. INFO: Ed Lovell, 831-6204 http://tracypress.com/content/view/15578/2242/ written by Tracy RealNews , August 23, 2008
Maybe they could save money on the silly idea of landing Garamendi's jet at the small Tracy airport. Nobody else will use the airport unless Garamendi forces the city into bankruptcy (or a lawsuit again???)? And the City doesn't need to waste $100 million dollars to float Garamendi's paper airplaines. Just put a small park downtown and stop wasting money to fund Garamendi's courthouse ideas.
The city doesn't need to fly in more high profile lawyers to sue the city at another of Garamendi's courthouse ideas. IMHO Thanks! written by Tracy RealNews , August 25, 2008
what?:
This is more misinformation from you - I didn't say she was "poor". I think you made that up. I heard she was rolling in the dough? Why not ask her to fund the airport instead of picking on me? I asked some open questions in a public forum. Others want to know the questions too. The City of Tracy doesn't need to waste money to float an paper airport idea for Garamendi. Just because she is unhappy with the city doesn't mean she has to come from her ranch and start demanding that we spend our money foolishly. Will the ranchers be flying to the Garamendi Hunting Preserve? If it isn't even located in Tracy then I don't see how it will benefit the city. And why should we have to fund it. What are you talking about? I simply requested to send their gas-guzzling jets to some other ranch? Tracy needs to go green.  written by maybenotdumBcommenT , August 25, 2008
Why would it be so bad to have some commuter jets here in Tracy. The roads are totally jammed and occasionally it would be nice to take a hop to one of the major airports and not have to drive. The cost of gas, to park in airport, to get to some other major cities more easily then it is now would be great.
written by Tracy RealNews , August 25, 2008
We need better transit, not expensive jets.
We don't all fly our jets to Garamendi's hunting preserve and ranch. This is Tracy. The workforce consists of mostly commuters to the Bay Area. We need transit, busses and trains. That would help ease the problems that you mentioned: the "roads that are totally jammed" and the "cost of gas" and the price to "park in the airport". Nobody I can think of will commute in a small jet to work in Pleasanton. Steve Jobs doesn't fly (often) to Tracy. When he does he takes a helicopter. Put the jet landing at Garamendi's ranch. She can have the ranchers and hunters just go direct. How many of them are there anyway? Waste of money. Thanks!  written by Bar Fann , August 25, 2008 it would be nice to take a hop to one of the major airports and not have to drive. The cost of gas, to park in airport, to get to some other major cities more easily then it is now would be great. That is very funny, maybenotbutusuallyactuallyisdumBcommenT. According to an online fare quote system, the least expensive jet to fly from Tracy to San Jose would cost $16,000 each way. Maybe you could afford that with a home equity loan? Think of all the money you would save on gas and parking. Is there anybody in this town with that kind of money? If so, is that how this city should spend out tax dollars, to expand the Tracy airport runway so that people with that kind of money can shave twenty minutes off of their commute to San Jose? Is that a plank on the Celeste Garamendi platform? Wow, if that's the way she thinks, she will really be able to relate to the joe six pack voters in this town. http://www.airplanning.com/ind...quote.html  written by Ian Stewart , August 26, 2008
No, actually, that doesn't make a damn bit of sense. Who in his right mind is going to charter a passenger jet with a 3,000-7,000 mile range to fly 40 miles over the Diablo Range? A more likely candidate is a light prop aircraft. And if multiple people decide to share the cost of a commuter aircraft trip, that charter price will likely be deeply slashed if a carrier can put together a regular route. Not saying that air commuting is suddenly going to become popular, but I don't believe that one example constitutes an effective analysis.
In addition, since the city government has seen fit to bet the city's industrial base on warehousing, it's a good strategy to keep the airport available as a possible shipping platform to augment the railroad in case truck shipping starts to falter. (And it will, due to fuel costs, the slow, agonizing death of owner-operators, and deferred road maintenance thanks to state and federal budget crises.) On the other hand, that doesn't necessarily require an extension of the runway, since the current runway can easily handle a relatively short-takeoff cargo aircraft like a DC-3 (examples of which are still employed in regional shipping up in the frozen north). That said, I don't doubt that Garamendi has just picked the lowest-hanging fruit to place under the necessary "Economic Growth" heading in her campaign brochure. Sundberg's facing the same problem, which is why she came up with the Alvarez deal out of nowhere. written by Bar Fann , August 26, 2008 No, actually, that doesn't make a damn bit of sense. Who in his right mind is going to charter a passenger jet with a 3,000-7,000 mile range to fly 40 miles over the Diablo Range? Amen to that, Ian Stewart. Since no one in their right minds would do that, and since no one in Tracy owns one of these business jets, why is Celeste calling for us to spend tens of millions of dollars to expand our runways to accomodate them? written by Bar Fann , August 26, 2008 lowest-hanging fruit "Fruit?" What fruit? The hubcap-sized piles of warm brown stuff that she has shoveled out of her pasture and onto her campaign platform? Ian Stewart, you've lived out here long enough to know that you shouldn't eat that stuff. written by Observer , August 26, 2008
I agree, just don't see the need to have airport custom tailored for elite fews over the comfort of Tracyites (noise and pollution). The airport is big enough for private crafts flown by business enterprenuers to oversee their business base in Tracy) People I knew chose that route, even doctors! If the jet jetters want to go to Tracy, they could easily fly their own private crafts to either airport in Tracy?
I just think the homeowners are not going to welcome this idea even though they "may be" encroaching on FAA land? Their homes already lowered in value due to these economical time, will their homes be further deappreciated due to the noise and pollution of the jets... sounds more like an elitists' dream. But is it also the majority of Tracyite's dream? -amy written by Tracy RealNews , August 26, 2008
Definitely sounds like an elitist's dream.
Looks like the "elitists" are charge over $10k to elk hunt at Garamendi's ranch/hunting preserve? Or whatever they are calling it. I sure can't afford it, as with most of the rest of the families and population of Tracy, CA. The list price is: "$10,250" to hunt elk at Garamendi Hunting Preserve. found the information here: http://www.mumwildlife.com/connolly.php And it will cost over $10k to fly from San Jose to Tracy. Didn't Garamendi also oppose the Tesla Park??? I wonder why??? written by Observer , August 27, 2008 Didn't Garamendi also oppose the Tesla Park??? I can see why now after the revelation, they didn't want a wild bullet during the elk hunting killing anyone if the Telsa Park was open? Park was denied to the public for the pleasure of wealthy few. Nice.... NOT! -amy written by Tracy RealNews , August 27, 2008
Another interesting thing that comes out of Garamendi's opposition to the Recreational Park at Tesla is that she said she opposed it because she wanted a variety of parks. Ironically, she is now opposed to yet another park. This time a Water Park. How many parks has she been opposed to now. Three?
I recall during the Shulte site, she was pictured in the Tracy Press sitting with developers trying to make a "developer deal". She was at the council meeting for the Holly vote and never said a word. I suspect she opposed that too since she shared a booth with Sundberg that month (at Lincoln Park). And Sundberg also voted against Holly Park! written by Tracy RealNews , August 27, 2008
I have a better idea put Garamendi's jet airplane idea at her Elk Hunting Ranch and let's just get more offers for the RGA's. Tell Keenan and other developers to come out in the open. I don't even know who the others are. Are they hiding? Were they instructed to do so by a candidate?
The citizens need to know. Not some "backroom deal" for a "plan" for "8000" homes/RGA's that Sundberg refused to discuss at council during the Alvarez thangy. written by Observer , August 27, 2008
Well, they certainly weren't free with their information, didn't they realize they will also be under "public scrunity".
Political person and lawyers find ways to "loophole" information of their true agenda??? I am concerned that there may be so much dealings going on that is kept in the dark from the public and their own supporters.... a candidate and a lawyer knows better than to withhold information and manupilate people with illusive words leading them to think it is "for them"..... where are the honest candidates??? Political person and a lawyer... they do know how to play the words! Not feeling comfortable about the whole thing! Keenan, that many supporters don't know about and I happened on it by accident...I wouldn't know about it either! Then wanting this airport.... really for what reason??? Keep the airport family friendly! I like the original plans the best! That is just my preference, of course, what does the majority of Tracyites want? That's the voice the candidates and elected officials should listen to? I know so since they vote! -amy  written by Dave Hardesty , August 27, 2008
Wow, how to say this and not get blasted for it.
The ideas of attracting the South County Courthouse and expansion of the Tracy Airport are not, in and of themselves, bad ideas. I do however hold umbrage with the way the information was presented. If in deed these projects are in fact good for all of Tracy then logically they should have been presented to all the citizens of Tracy instead of select special interest groups under the guise of campaigning for Mayor. I am not entirely against the idea of a South County Court House and do feel it would be a good thing for Tracy. I don't think the best location is the bow tie area and feel the Chrisman site would be a more suitable location all the way around and have the least negative impact on people currently living in Tracy close to the bow tie area. I also didn't see a plan on how this would be carried out and over what timeline it would occur and was less than pleased to learn the 11 Billion dollar appropriations bill had not even passed the Assembly. Let’s all go out and buy a house without considering how we are to pay for it.  I am also in favor of more development of the Tracy Airport. Here again I believe there is a solution and that the solution does not severely impact public safety even if the Ellis division and the Aquatics Park goes in as envisioned by a lot of people. I do believe that both operations and the airport are in fact compatible. written by Dave Hardesty , August 27, 2008
The reason I believe this is from looking at a number of airports around the country that are in close proximity to residences and then looking critically at the amount of problems they have incurred over the years.
Yes, aircraft do crash, just like cars. But because cars crash doesn't mean we don't build houses along roadways and yes, occasionally you read where some car drove through someone's living room. The term is called acceptable risk. We make acceptable risk decisions every day of our lives. If we didn't we wouldn't get much accomplished. My problem again with the Airport is the way the latest meeting was conducted. Again, if it's an important thing for Tracy then all of Tracy should be presented with the information, not just the lucky 40 or so people who managed to attend. Yet this seems to be yet another of Celeste's divisive moves. A bait and switch if you will. Garner big money support, announce some possibilities in the format of promises of big money flowing into the city and offer no plans or information how any of it is to be carried out, all in the guise of a mayoral campaign. Sorry, but that doesn't fly with me, pardon the pun. written by Dave Hardesty , August 27, 2008
All of this information is no longer new and I am quite sure Celeste and her supporters know of all these discussions. Have we heard from the Garamendi camp on any possible reconsideration of any of these basically good plans? Is there no possibility of compromise so that all of these very worth wild projects can move forward? Or is it the same stalwart tactic of “it's my way or it can't ever be done” that we have lived under for over 10 years now?
The people of Tracy are smart. If they are given all of the information along with logical plans on how it can be brought to fruition, they are smart enough to figure it all out and cast their votes accordingly. But the very fact that compromise seems to be a dirty word, and bait and switch pseudo-public meetings are held to promote special interest ideas, leads me to believe that Celeste really has nothing much to offer the citizens of Tracy as their Mayor elect. Sorry, but the obvious secrecy and back room dealing/prompting with present and possibly future counsel members is enough to make me give Celeste a wide berth and avoid her completely as she doesn’t come off as sounding genuinely concerned about the well being of all the Tracy residents. And yes, in case you missed it, I am talking about present councilwoman Irene Sundburg, factually a Garamendi supporter and a councilwoman that has systematically espoused everything Celeste has attempted to do in City Counsel meetings since Irene has been elected. If anything I would have to say, regretfully, that it certainly seems that Irene is nothing more than Celeste’s puppet. Dave Hardesty  written by Lester1 , August 28, 2008
Dave
You, being a good Tracy citizen, Would you be so kind to give us the names, dates and the subjet matter of these secret and back room deals. I am sure the citizens of Tracy would like to know the names of these counsel members. Thank you written by Tracy RealNews , August 28, 2008
The "plan" for "8000" homes was mentioned in the July 1st City Council meeting. The question was asked of all the city council members. Sundberg refused to answer to the public. Tolbert said "don't drag me into it". The WalMart employees were there. They saw it too! Was Garamendi in the back of the room that day?
Did Sundberg look to her for how to respond? Since she was not there? The silence! Sad! written by Tracy RealNews , August 28, 2008
It was mentioned during the Holly vote.
Or you could say the "Alvarez vote" (if you are a Sundberg, Garamendi, Tolbert supporter)!?! Thanks! written by Dave Hardesty , August 28, 2008
Lester1
Sure, as best I can with the knowledge I have. I have already done this but apparently you missed it or cannot find it. A councilmember secret meeting, apparently, was held between Keenan Land Development with Irene Sundburg and her manager Susan Sarvey. In a different secret meeting, apparently, involved Keenan Land Development and Steve Abercrombie. In a third and different secret meeting, apparently, involved Keenan Land Development and Evelyn Tolbert. When Susan Tucker asked about what went on in these meetings, during the discussion of where to locate the Youth Sports Park to which the Alvarez property was being considered and Keenan Land Development is/was involved with the Alvarez Property to negotiate a deal for some type of development, alleged to be about 8,000 units as best as I have been able to determine, only Steve Abercrombie confirmed the meeting while Irene Sundburg didn't respond and Evelyn Tolbert responded with "Don't drag me into it." As near as I have been able to find out about what occurred in these meetings was the offer of the free 50 acres for a youth sports park in exchange for perks pertaining to the rest of the development. Allegedly low-income high density residential units were also being offered in the plan. written by Dave Hardesty , August 28, 2008
I take umbrage with this in that the information was not presented to counsel by anyone other than Steve who rejected the plans as they were not the best possible solution for a youth sports park which was being considered by all of city counsel at the time.
Had the 50 acre free offer of property not been in the picture for consideration of a youth sports park or the rest of the development plans been public information and on the table for consideration I wouldn't have a problem. The fact that Steve publicly answered Susan’s question and felt the Alvarez property was not the best solution for a Youth Sports Park gives him a free pass/no foul in my book. I wish that I could say the same about Irene and Evelyn. Apparently some information they were privy too, not made public and not information the counsel had, leads me to believe that the information affected the decision on the table about the best possible location to place a Youth Sports Park. If you recall both councilwomen voted against the Holly site in favor of the Alvarez site. In fact Irene did and said everything possible to get council to support her decision for Alvarez and against the Holly site. Furthermore, when the issue was voted on with Susan Tucker, and the vote ended in a tie, Irene Sundburg and Susan Sarvey both castigated Steve Abercrombie in the parking lot that evening and told him that he had betrayed them with his vote for the Holly site. This information was passed directly too me from Steve and there have been no denials to the incident what so ever. written by Dave Hardesty , August 28, 2008
On the next meeting, with all members of counsel in attendance, the issue was decided for the Holly site as a Youth Sports Park facility.
To date, other than from Steve Abercrombie the other council members involved, Irene Sundburg and Evelyn Tolbert, have not given a public explanation about what went on in these meetings and what was discussed. What I find really unusual about all of this is Irene’s public history of accusing other council members of conducting “secret backroom deals” when it seems she is guilty of doing the very same thing. Sort of a don’t do as I do, do as I say, and that isn’t good in anyone’s book. The press did an extensive article on this as well as a myriad of comments here in the comment sections. To date neither councilwoman has publicly responded and I find that alarming in that both are seeking seats on council. Most certainly this condition does nothing to foster voter confidence in either of these two candidates especially since enough time has elapsed to give them opportunity to tell all of us at the same time what actually occurred. Dave Hardesty written by Dave Hardesty , August 28, 2008
I should also mention these alleged secret meetings occurred before June 15th which was the original date the selection of a Youth Sports Park facility was being made and was scheduled to be made at that meeting.
To some this might be considered to be a tampering effort on the part of Keenan Land Development and may be illegal under the laws concerning such things. But I am not a lawyer or someone well versed in such things so that would have to be a decision made by those who are competent to do so. Additionally, since I am and have been on public record since July of bringing all of this information to light, no one has contacted me informing me of any errors on this or that I might be libeling them. If they had, and I had libeled them, I would print a public retraction, but that has not happened and its now almost September. Given the litigious society we find ourselves living in today, and the fact this is a pretty serious thorn in several political people’s sides, if there wasn’t a strong element of truth to what I have said I am very sure I would have been contacted and threatened by legal action if I didn’t retract what I have said before and have restated here. That alone tells me that I must be a lot closer to the truth than they are comfortable with. Either that or there is some other truth that I don’t know about that may be uncovered that will further embarrass them. Look, it boils down to who can the public trust? If their elected representatives and or political candidates are given the opportunity to publicly explain why they voted as they did and what information they were privy to before that vote then the public’s trust has been violated. written by Dave Hardesty , August 28, 2008
Now, how does this pertain to Celeste Garamendi? The word is association. It certainly is no secret to anyone watching counsel about who is pulling Irene Sundburg’s strings. It’s a historical fact from eight years of observation. Everything Celeste supports, Irene supports. Everything Celeste does not support, straight and flat across the board, Irene does not support.
Additionally, if you go to Celeste’s web page you find that Irene Sundburg is listed as a supporter and it was factually substantiated by Mark and Celeste at Celeste’s first mayoral campaign meeting. Knowing that Irene is firmly in Celeste’s pocket, for what ever reason, and knowing there is another counsel candidate that also supports Celeste for mayor, I really don’t think it’s in the City of Tracy’s best interest to stuff counsel with known TRAQC supporters to decide what is best for the entire city of Tracy. Dave Hardesty written by Tracy RealNews , August 28, 2008 Of note: Garamendi's TRAQC took down their website after the second lawsuit against the city. I think they all started going into hiding after that. And nobody that I am aware of knows where the money went. There was even a "threat of a fourth lawsuit (it was in the Tracy Press). That article even appeared very recently, even after Garamendi's TRAQC went into stealth mode. I also don't think we are seeing the delivery of the "promise" of Garamendi's "transparency", here. Thanks! This content has been locked. You can no longer post any comment.
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The job of a court- is at odds with thriving community for shoppers, restaurant-goers, park-users, dog-walkers, business owners, coffee-drinkers, workers and residents.
The nature of conflict with the volatile behavior of the of some of the judicial system's participants... the family and friends of victims, defendants, or witnesses
create a mix detrimental to a thriving community.
How many or what percentage of 'courthouse-goers' in Stockton...
use the surrounding businesses in the evening
-shopping?
-restaurants?
-bars?
-markets?
-offices?
-bail bonds?
-government services?
-attorney offices?
live in the surrounding neighborhood?
have the disposable income to support retail businesses?
-walk their dogs?
were instrumental in the installation of the
-security bars?
-alarms?
-screening in the court?
-increased patrols?
By the inclusion of courthouse-goers, Celeste has secured the endorsement of the Press?