You've seen them by now. Yard signs in the election-standard red, white and blue, proclaiming "No Cityhood" and "Stay Sacramento", along with the Stay Sacramento web site address. I'm not sure how many of these things are in yards around town, but they are in prominent locations, and getting a lot of attention.
I've spoken with several people about incorporation, and they seem to be universally surprised at how many people seem to be opposing incorporation. But after doing a few ride-arounds and taking some straw counts, there really aren't that many signs out, at least that I've found.
But after thinking about the sign issue for a while, I realized the reason they seem so prevalent is that there are no signs for the pro-cityhood view. If you hear one side of an argument over and over, without ever hearing from the other side, it's easy to fall into the trap of believing no one is supporting the opposite view.
After a bit of research I found out why there are no incorporation signs. County election laws limit the time frame for posting signs to 60 days prior to the election. So you won't be seeing any pro-cityhood signs until early September, at the earliest.
Which begs the question: Why is Stay Sacramento illegally posting signs all over town? The answer, as usual, involves Stay Sacramento following the letter, while relieving itself all over the spirit of the law. Their claim is that the signs are not for the election, but just a statement of beliefs, protected under the 1st Amendment. Since they don't mention the election specifically, or contain the word "Vote", they maintain the signs are not related to the election.
Well, my daddy always said that if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then start making the orange sauce. The facts are simple. The signs are expressing a clear opinion about an issue that will be on the ballot in the next general election. There is absolutely no other reason for these signs to exist other than to attempt to influence public opinion about the outcome of the upcoming election.
If this didn't tick me off so much, I'd probably be amused by the irony of Stay Sacramento's non-stop accusations of ethical violations against incorporation proponents, while they dance around the fine points of law to openly violate its intent. The campaign committee members I've spoken with are content to let this ride, waiting until the time is right to start putting out their stuff. But I don't think that's enough.
Please don't go overboard here. Don't go ripping signs out of yards or defacing property. We don't want to be reduced to their level. And don't hold the folks who posted the signs responsible; they probably just did what they were told. They have the right to their own opinions, whether or not the people who told them what to think did so ethically or legally.
If you want to do something, call the county election commissioner's office at (916) 875-6451. Tell them about the signs, and that you feel they violate election laws. Let them know the signs are expressing an opinion about an upcoming ballot measure, and that constitutes an illegal action.
Then come back here and let us know what your find out. It would be good to get some discussion going on this. Plus, I get so lonely when you kids never write!
When I see those signs, I see where hateful people live. People who don't care about anyone other than themselves. They don't care about the recent homicides in the community. They don't care that the County cannot provide law enforcement. They don't care about the obviously mentally unstable guy who has lurked/loitered on Cottage Way for over a month now. They don't care about the proliferation of check cashing stores, bong shops, illegal massage parlors and vacant storefronts across the community. Most of the sign-posters appear to live comfortable lives behind locked gates or in well-off portions of the community. Now and then I see a rare exception of these signs in a working-class neighborhood and I know that's where someone who only gets their news from Fox lives. I have a little more patience with them b/c they're just either ignorant or mis-informed. But the ones in the wealthy neighborhoods? Let's just say I don't want much to do with people who don't care about their neighbors or the community. If cityhood fails because of these people, I wonder if they will feel all warm and fuzzy years from now that they killed the dream, blocked the vision, held the community back, and let us be gobbled up by the City of Sacramento. By then the local (AA) economy will be less viable, our parks and pools will be closed or on rolling blackouts, and good luck to anyone who wants the City of Sacramento to give service to their neighborhoods (unless those neighborhoods are called Arden Oaks, Sierra Oaks, or Arden Park).
ReplyDeleteA number of candidates have now taken out nomination papers to serve our community on the first Arden Arcade city council. Democrats, Republicans, an Independent & even a Libertarian are choosing to step forward to serve our community. These folks are the ambassadors for cityhood & should all be commended for this. As individual campaigns begin to reach out, knocking on doors in our neighborhoods, the truth about what cities can do will be spread. These folks will be talking specifics about the great challenges that face our family, friends & neighbors. I encourage my neighbors to ask serious questions & demand serious answers when one of these candidates comes to your door, calls your home or contacts you by mail. Until then, I hope you keep up by following Ed's blog & I urge you to give what you can in time or dollars to the cityhood effort.
ReplyDeleteMichael, with all due respect, bite me. I'm hardcore pro-cityhood, as the unwieldy county gov't is just plain unaccountable, and Fox News is far superior to the Commiecrat News Network or the rest of the lamestream liberal TV media.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys, for proving thet the incorporation issue isn't about party politics. One on the left, and one on the right, who are both rabid fans of incorporation. Just as it shoudl be.
ReplyDeleteJust remember to keep it civil?
Sorry Ed, but I had to vent. If anything, those who want Arden Arcade to be "gobbled up by the City of Sacramento" are on the LEFT. They want us part of a City that would rather coddle illegal aliens than deal with its own crime problem. The Soviet News And Review article, if you caught their recent hit piece on Arden Arcade incorporation, was very revealing.
ReplyDelete