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Ban on red and blue
Monday, August 16, 2010 ::
1 Comments
I rarely am over by either of the high schools in the morning.
Today I was at the corner of Pioneer and Gibson at 0730-0745. For the last couple years we have been told that kinds can't have blue or red stuff because of possible gang implications. Clearly that is nonsense.
As I sat waiting for the light to change it was easy to count to more than 25 kids wearing solid red shirts, hats, backpacks. Blue too.
Not sure what the deal is but I am clearly getting bad information.
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Questions for myself
Sunday, August 15, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Last week Jenn and I went with the kids to Tahoe for four days. It was a great time with the family. Several things I would recommend for families with young kids.
I am very thankful for the time.. but that is not all I have been thinking about since the trip. In addition to the great family time I have also been troubled by an interaction I had with a cashier.
The kids were both in the car buckled in. Jenn was fifteen feet away paying for our rafting trip. It seemed like a great time to walk 100 feet away and get a Diet Coke. So I went into this old gas station turned convieniance store to get my favorite drink. I got my soda and went to pay. The woman behind the counter was efficient and very nice.
The problem I had was that her apparent age really threw me for a loop. This woman was probably 80 -- but I really don't know.
The troubling part was that I made an immediate judgment in my mind that she was down on her luck and had to work selling me Diet Coke. I never asked her a single question and we never had any interaction other than the purchase of a soda. Who am I to make that leap in my mind?
My immediate reaction was to feel sorry for this woman. If she really is down on her luck then I guess I am right to feel sorry for her. But how would I know?
The crazy thing is that I don't know if she owned the place, the block, the entire state. She could have been a woman that was loaded but her goal in life was to sell Diet Cokes to people in August in Lake Tahoe. I have no idea.
Part of me felt sorry for her. Part of me wanted to make sure that neither Jenn nor me, nor my mom, nor family member had to work to sell Diet Coke to someone like me in August in Lake Tahoe because they had to. If they want to -- that is a different story.
We all look for clues when we meet people. We make observations and make decisions on how to act. Do they smell? Are they dressed nicely? Do they cuss when they speak? But what are appropriate judgments to make and what aren't?
Anyway -- this one interaction has had me thinking for almost a week. It has made me think about several things but mostly what sort of decisions to make about people without knowing all the facts...even though we all do it all the time.
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Country Oaks Athletic Club
Saturday, August 14, 2010 ::
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 After my senior year of high school I needed to make money. I was willing to do pretty much anything. So I cobbled together a series of full and part time jobs to max out the money I made before my freshman year at USC.
One of my "full time" jobs that summer was as a lifeguard at Country Oaks Athletic Club. I made just over minimum wage and got paid to clean the pool, swim laps at break, and then hang out by the pool. Great job.
After my senior year of college I need to get in shape for boot camp. I spent a little over a year working out at Country Oaks getting ready. At the time they were remodeling the place and so I worked out in the gym. We would come in from the back parking lot and be able to work out even after they were "closed".
Later Jenn and I worked out there when she moved to Woodland after we got married.
So whenever I drive by this place I just kind of look in the gate and get ticked. This morning I drove by and took this picture from the front gate.
It is my understanding that Country Oaks was actually doing ok financially but that the cost of homes made it a more valuable property then the use as an athletic club. When this was proposed I was Mayor and looked into options the city had. Other than buying the property at the per acre market price for land that was zoned single family residential and had city services we did not have an option.
It was too bad -- but I accepted it. The problem is now that five years later people in Woodland could have been playing tennis, swimming, lifting weights, and staying healthy at this location and Spare Time (the owners of the club) could have kept right making money.
This is a real shame to see such a waste of opportunity.
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SuperFreakonomics
Monday, July 05, 2010 ::
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A couple weeks ago I finished reading the book SuperFreakonomics. I strongly recommend it.
In fact, I read Chapter 1 "How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa?" the night right before the Board of Supervisors meeting when we talked about drug testing. I was on the verge of making a comment in the meeting that started with "Last night I was reading about prostitution..." when I stopped myself.
These authors point out some of the economic principles associated with our everyday life -- and do it in a very readable way.
Read it. You will like it.
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Religulous -- Movie with Bill Maher from 2008
Sunday, July 04, 2010 ::
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Last night Jenn and I watched the movie Religulous with Bill Maher. Maher is someone that I have watched for a long time on various shows.
Certainly we all have questions about faith and religion. The problem I have with this movie is that is is truly an attack on religion more than a challenge of ideas.
At one point in the movie that really bothered me Maher is at the Vatican. He ends up outside talking to come guy on camera that clearly does not speak for the Catholic Church yet Maher credits him with some kind of a title so that he appears to be speaking for the church. This is silly.
What would any of you think if I go outside the White House and find some random homeless guy wearing an Obama shirt and then with the backdrop being the White House I shred the guy on ObamaCare and campaign finance reform?
At another point in the movie he interviews a guy that is a former singer that is now a Minister of some kind. The guy asked Maher to call him "Doctor" even though he has no degree of any kind. This is a mismatch from the start.
Personally, I actually like the fact that Maher pushes people. In the course of the movie he asks some great questions. He just asks them to the wrong audience.
Maher needs to pick a fight with someone his own size. In this topic I am not capable to taking Maher on. I wish I were. However, he chooses to pick the weakest representatives around and portrays them as representing organized religion.
Religulous is a movie that can get you to think if you look deep but mostly it is just Maher showing off his superior preparation and verbal skills against a bunch of lightweights.
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Smaller Government - but not if I have to do it.
Saturday, July 03, 2010 ::
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Some things in my service on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors surprise me. The most recent has been the response from Presiding Judge David Rosenberg following my attempt to eliminate a $40,000 payment from the county to the judges.
You can read the latest in the Daily Democrat today. Read here.
When I tell people I want to cut government waste and abuse of tax dollars I get heads nodding all over. The problem is that whenever I attempt to cut something -- a special interest group of some kind pops up and says "oh cutting waste is great -- but you can't cut this. This is not waste."
Newsflash -- we can't afford more government. In fact, we can't afford the government that we have now.
So far I have run into resistance on the trapper, UC Co-OP extension, staff for Supervisors, and now this slush fund for judges.
It seems like it is a piece of cake to fire employees yet for some reason we can't seem to get rid of some of the things I consider to be obvious. Politics is a funny business.
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Night at the Museum - Gibson House
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 ::
1 Comments
Here is a picture from last Friday at the Gibson house. They will be doing this again next week. It was a great turnout, for the first week, they had close to 100 people. These are free events. Proceeds from pizza, popcorn and drinks help support the museum.
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Dan Morain: Capacity Issues in Government
Monday, June 28, 2010 ::
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It used to be rare that I agreed with Dan Morain. Lately however he has been right on the money on several issues.
This is an excellent piece about the difficult situation being faced in the California State Senate by the leadership.
It is my understanding that County Boards of Supervisors, City Councils, and School Boards do not have the same sort of remedy available to the Legislature to remove members with capacity issues.
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A new Sunday
Sunday, June 27, 2010 ::
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Many of you know that my family attends church virtually every Sunday. It is important to the way Jenn and I are raising our kids and a foundation for our marriage.
In my life I have had several church services stand out to me. One of them was Easter Sunday 2003 when I was in Kuwait. This Navy Chaplain was excellent. Excellent. I remember that one.
The day I was confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran in Woodland stands out to me. Remember that one.
I also remember when one of my brothers stood up in the middle of a sermon, pointed right at Pastor Faust and screamed "There's the boogie man." I will never forget that one.
Well, today I went to St. John Missionary Baptist in Sacramento. The reason I went was work related but I have to tell you it was a wonderful experience. It was a service that was different from anything I have ever seen.
Several things stood out --
1) People were friendly. I must have had 15 people greet me as I was trying to get to a seat.
2) They were a family. It was clear that the people in the pews cared about each other. Not just as friends but as family. You could just sense it.
3) The Pastor and his wife were true leaders in the lives of the congregation. Today was a day when they had free HIV testing for the whole congregation. In fact, the Pastor and his wife got tested right in the middle of the service. I loved that. Don't see that too often.
4) Lots of people are involved in the service. Probably 30 people when you count uniformed ushers, choirs, pastors, greeters served in some way today. That was impressive.
It was great for my work that I went but I really truly was touched by a great congregation and team. It was very cool -- like right out of a movie.
Jenn and I are not looking for a new church home but St. John is obviously a great one.
This service made my day.
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Stockton School Board Member lives in Davis?
Sunday, June 27, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Every day I get this great e-mail from the Maddy Institute at Fresno State. It is very well done.
One of the things it has is links to news stories up and down the valley. This editorial that mentions a Stockton School Board Member that lives in Davis is odd.
Read editorial here.
Anyone know this guy?
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Gateway 2 on BOS Agenda
Sunday, June 27, 2010 ::
0 Comments
The County is going to comment on the Draft EIR for Gateway 2. The item is open for discussion on Tuesday morning at our Board meeting.
I just read the stuff in my packet on this. Mostly, I am fine with what is in there.
Here is my issue -- What does the City of Woodland want? I have no idea.
The draft response letter is right. The county does not have great detail on what is in the project at all. I have concluded that the City of Woodland doesn't have any details either.
So I really don't understand why we are going over this whole exercise when to my knowledge the Woodland City Council has not even taken a vote on this item.
Based on my past experiences with the county and city negotiating for these items these issues tend to raise my blood pressure. The County sent in a team of people without a real mission and no authority to make a decision. As a result of their own incompetence they felt they were mistreated. It was not my issue to negotiate for both the City and the County in 2005.
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Facinating impact of government regulations......
Sunday, June 27, 2010 ::
0 Comments
On the Board of Supervisors agenda this week is Item 2.19 about the Cache Creek Technical Advisory Committee. Here is a part of the well-written staff report that drives people like me crazy.
"In addition, the Cache Creek Technical Advisory Committee has long held an annual "creek walk" where members hike from the Capay Dam down to the town of Yolo over a period of one to three days. Under the Brown Act, public meetings must make accommodations for those with disabilities. It is impossible to hold a hike over rocky terrain and through low-flows of the creek that is handicapped accessible. As a result the hikes have been discontinued."
What a complete shame for a group of people involved in managing a public resource to be prevented from actually going out and looking at it together when they do their work.
Terrible.
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The Winner is......Wu Ming of Davis
Saturday, June 26, 2010 ::
0 Comments
The winner of the election prediction contest is Wu Ming (aka Surf Putah) of Davis. Missing only two of the ten.
The low score was The Realist. In fact, I think that was an all time low score with four. It was a pathetic effort in looking at the entry a few days later.
Second to last was the Vice-Mayor of Woodland. That is pathetic but in a different way.
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Host Families Needed
Friday, June 18, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Host families are needed for Chinese exchange students. The students will be in the region for two weeks starting around July 25.
Information for potential host families
What is a Homestay?
Simply put, a homestay is when a foreign visitor stays with a host family. An educational homestay program is designed to allow the foreign visitor and the host family to learn and share their language and culture with each other. Volunteer host families open their homes to students. During the short visits (usually two to four weeks), students attend morning classes where they study English as a Second Language and participate in cultural exchanges and activities in the afternoons. One day a week is dedicated to touring the local area. During the academic year program students attend the local high school in their host family's community. Evenings and weekends in all programs are spent with the host family. These types of programs totally immerse the student in a culture and language different from his/her own. Experts estimate that two weeks of living with people whose language is different from one's own is roughly equivalent to six months in the classroom.
Who can be a Host Family?
A typical host family has the following elements: open hearts and minds, enthusiastic about the concept of cultural exchange, willing to share their homes and lives with a new friend, and interested in the world around them. Families of all sizes and descriptions are welcome. The minimal requirements for a qualified host family are: positive comments from two community references, at least two related persons living in the home, at least one family member with English as their native language, English spoken in the home during the time the student is present.
What are the responsibilities of a Host Family?
To provide the student with meals
To provide the student with his/her own bed. The visitor may share a room with a host family sibling of the same sex
To provide conversation with the student and allow him/her to participate fully as a family member
To provide transportation to and from the study center, which can include walking, biking, carpooling, or taking public transportation
How does a family benefit from the hosting experience? Families benefit from hosting in many ways! It is an educational experience that is fun for all involved, from the baby to Grandpa. The family is able to see their own culture and lives through the eyes of a foreign visitor. They learn about the culture and life of that visitor and can compare the differences and similarities. We have many stories of families who have hosted years ago and their children were so affected by the experience that they began to study foreign languages in school and travel to other countries. Some even went on to study international law and international business. At the least this experience allows the family members to learn about another culture without leaving their living room. Another benefit to the families is that they meet many other families right in their own neighborhood. We frequently see these new relationships blossom into long lasting friendships. It is a wonderful way for a family who is new to the community to very quickly feel at home.
Feel ready for a student?
Contact Melody Stone - 7078322099
Forevermelody@gmail.com
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Child needs your support
Thursday, June 17, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Dear Colleagues,
Lupe Ramirez, a Woodlander and a valued long-time employee in our Clerk/Recorder's office has a wonderful 20 year-old daughter, Leanna, who is fighting a courageous battle against a virulent form of cancer, Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors, that has now spread to her lungs.
The costs to the family for transportation, co-pays, prostheses and other medical necessities have become close to unbearable.
Staff and friends are organizing a 3 mile walk/run to benefit Leanna on Saturday, July 10th, at Douglass Junior High School in Woodland.
Colleagues, this is our family. I am imploring you to post the notice of the walk/run in your offices and to organize any of your willing employees to participate and show their support for this young woman and her loving, supportive family.
I can not tell you how much it would mean to us for our co-workers to show their support in this way.
As a Department Head and decision-maker, I know that you share with me a deep and gnawing sense of responsibility and sorrow for what employees like Lupe are going through as they struggle to maintain their families when we have had to cut their incomes by ten percent.
Kindness and charity are among the core values that all of our belief systems call on us to honor. Please be true to yourself and to your beliefs by helping and urging others to help.
Information is attached. Please let us hear that you are prepared to step up in a meaningful way.
Yours sincerely,
Freddie Oakley
Yolo County Clerk-Recorder
Find more info at: www.loveforleanna.blogspot.com
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Great Column in Daily Democrat
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Jake Dorsey of the Daily Democrat had an excellent piece in the paper yesterday about how Woodland needs Bobby Harris. It was right next to an equally bad editorial about mandating the ban of plastic bags by cities.
Dorsey is so right. We do need someone to hold people accountable and talk about issues that push our community. You know, I did not support Bobby Harris for City Council this time. In my opinion Marble and Davies were much better choices. However, I could actually imagine a field of candidates in which I would support Bobby.
Bobby Harris is a smart guy. He is certainly the most articulate public speaker that has ever run for office in Woodland.
If Bobby does want to hold office in this community at some point I think he needs to get control of his personal situation. He could clean up and get a job. He also needs to be able to state his views more concisely. Sometimes getting a 10 paragraph description as the answer to a simple question does not help his perception.
In the end -- Bobby is going to be whatever Bobby wants to be. He can run again and again. If his purpose is just to run and ask pointed questions -- then I guess he has no reason to change anything he is doing.
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Fiscally conservative.......
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 ::
0 Comments
I like to be called "Fiscally conservative Matt Rexroad...."
I think I might try to change my first name. Here is an article in the Daily Democrat about the budget adoption yesterday.
Read here.
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Local Mental Health Board
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 ::
0 Comments
I need someone to appoint to the Local Mental Health Board. I had appointed a service recipient that was a great choice but he had a scheduling conflict.
If you or someone you know would like to serve (ideally a service recipient) please let me know -- matt@rexroad.com.
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Rugby from Woodland
Sunday, June 13, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Knowing that I am going to be offending a certain number of you -- Listen up.
I just got contacted by a good friend of mine from Sacramento about some rugby player from Woodland. I was busy last week and did not focus on it until just now.
Well it turns out he was born in Woodland but probably lives in Davis. Anyone know?
I don't get the Davis Enterprise anymore so maybe he has been getting local publicity there.
Check this out. His name is Thretten Palamo and he even has his own Wikipedia page. Read it here.
See this article. Mr. Palamo is the guy soaring in the air for some kind of a rugby score.
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Chamber of Commerce -- No on V
Thursday, June 03, 2010 ::
0 Comments
I am shocked. SHOCKED.
The Woodland Chamber of Commerce has come out against Measure V. That is amazing.
Granted it is only five days prior to the election -- but good for the Chamber.
See Daily Democrat article here.
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Call it for next week
Tuesday, June 01, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Prize will be Ludy's again...
Send entries to matt@rexroad.com
Each worth one point
Woodland City Council -- who gets the most votes? Davies, B. Harris, Marble
Woodland City Council -- who gets the least number of votes? Davies, B. Harris, Marble
Republican Attorney General? Harman, Cooley, Eastman
Democrat Attorney General? K. Harris, DelGadillo, Kelly, Lieu, Nava, Torrico
Sup of Public Instruction top vote getter? Torlakson, Romero, Aceves
Prop 16 by PG&E Pass/Fail?
Prop 14 Open Primary Pass/Fail?
Woodland Sales Tax Pass/Fail?
Who gets a higher percentage of the vote -- Skip Davies for City Council or Steve Poizner for Governor?
Who gets a higher percentage of the vote -- Charlie Schaupp for Assembly or Elizabeth Barber for Public Administrator.
Tie Breaker
What percentage of the vote does Bobby Harris get for City Council?
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Predictions 2010 Woodland
Saturday, May 29, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Ok. Here are my predictions.
Woodland Vice-Mayor -- Bill Marble
Woodland City Councilman - Skip Davies.
note: Skip is the better choice to be Mayor but that is not how it will turn out.
Bobby Harris still has nine cats.
Woodland Sales Tax -- Yes -- 45% No -- 55%
Cass Sylvia -- 59%
Some lady gets 41% and we never hear from her again.
Davis City Council -- That guy Joe wins because they think they are voting for Jim Provenza. David Greenwald files suit that Provenza is holding incompatible offices only to discover they are not the same person. Davis then passes Measure A in November than places a parcel tax of just $200 a year on anyone that has a name ending in A to provide voter education preventing voter confusion in any future election. That passes with 68% of the vote.
4,000 people decide to write in a recall attempt against Art Pimentel. It fails. Skip Davies, Dotty Huber, Bill Marble, Jim Smith, Dave Flory, and Patricia Valenzuela admit to being the driving force behind the recall effort -- that fails.
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Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Endorsements
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 ::
0 Comments
HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE'S CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS 2010:
U.S. Senate: Chuck DeVore
Governor: Meg Whitman
Lt. Governor: Sam Aanestad
Attorney General: John Eastman
Secretary of State: Damon Dunn
Treasurer: Mimi Walters
Controller: Tony Strickland
BOE Dist. 2: George Runner
BOE Dist. 3: Michelle Steel
SD 4: Doug LaMalfa
SD 14: Tom Berryhill
SD 15: Sam Blakeslee (special)
SD 16: Phil Wyman
SD 22: Edward Paul Reyes
SD 28: John S. Stammreich
SD 36: Joel Anderson
SD 37: Bill Emerson
SD 38: Mark Wyland
AD 2: Jim Neilson
AD 3: Dan Logue
AD 5: Duel Endorsement : Craig Deluz and Andy Pugno
AD 7: Doris Gentry
AD 15: Abram Wilson
AD 28: Allen Barker
AD 31: Brandon Shoemaker
AD 32: Ken Mettler
AD 33: Etta Waterfield
AD 35: Mike Stoker
AD 36: Stephen Knight
AD 37: Jeff Gorell
AD 44: Alvaro Day
AD 53: Nathan Mintz
AD 55: Chris Salabaj
AD 59: Anthony Rily
AD 68: Allan Mansoor
AD 70: Jerry Amante
AD 77: Bill Wells
OC Assessor: Claude Parrish
OC Treasurer: Shari Freidenrich
LA Co. Assessor: John Noguez
Amador Co. Assessor: Jim Rooney
Riverside Co. Assessor: Larry Ward
Nevada Co. Assessor: Sue Horne
San Diego Co. Assessor: Jeff Olson
El Dorado Co. Supervisor: Ron Briggs
Riverside Co. Supervisor: John Benoit
Ventura Co. Supervisor: Audra Strickland
Yolo Co. Supervisor: Matt Rexroad
Arcadia City Council: Peter Amundson
Chula Vista City Council: Larry Breitfelder
Fresno City Council: Doug Vagim
Rancho Santa Margarita City Council: Steve Baric
San Diego City Council: Lorie Zapf
Ventura Co. Treasurer: Judge Steven Hintz
Natomas USD: Ryan Herche
Sacramento Co. Sheriff: Scott Jones
CD 3: Dan Lungren
CD 11: David Harmer
CD 19: Jeff Denham
CD 47: Van Tran
THE HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
HAS TAKEN THESE POSITIONS ON STATE BALLOT MEASURES:
PROP. 13: Exempts earthquake retrofitting from reassessment: Support
PROP. 14: “OPEN PRIMARY”: Oppose
PROP. 15 Public funding of elections: Oppose
No position on Props. 16 and 17. These are not taxpayer issues.
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Did not know this was an issue
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 ::
0 Comments
I did not know this issue had been brought up at the City Council meeting when I wrote the post below. Here is Democrat article.
Bobby Harris did not get a ballot statement in Spanish and now he is claiming that the city denied him his rights to have one. Got it.
Here is a little news -- BOBBY HARRIS DOES NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO A BALLOT STATEMENT IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH.
If Bobby wanted a ballot statement he could pay for one.
Notice how Matt Rexroad does not have one this election. Were my rights violated? No. I chose not to have one. It is optional.
Bottom line -- if you are able bodied enough to serve on the Woodland City Council I generally think that 99% of the time you are able bodied enough to compete for a job in the market place that would enable you to pay for a ballot statement OR you could raise money from you hundreds of supporters that want to see you win.
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Constitutional Right? I think not.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Below you will find the candidate statement for City Council candidate Bobby Harris. It is different from some of the others but it is fine.
The problem I have with it is that the taxpayers of Woodland had to pay for it. Skip Davies and Bill Marble paid filing fees to get on the ballot and to have their ballot statements printed in both English and Spanish.
Bobby did not.
I understand and agree with the Constitutional arguments behind allowing someone to have the fee waived to appear on the ballot. That should be open to anyone and if people can't afford it then they should still be allowed to run for office.
In my opinion this Constitutional principle does not apply to getting a ballot statement paid for by the taxpayers. The general fund of the City of Woodland had to pay to have this statement published. This was the decision by the City Attorney that I disagree with. What I find really interesting is that either Bobby decided not to print it in Spanish or in some strange twist of legal reasoning the Constitution only required the taxpayers to pay for a ballot statement in English.
We need to start reducing expenditures by government. When I see able people of body and mind need to hit the general fund for something I consider optional it just tells me that we will do nothing but grow government bigger and bigger.
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Saturday - Measure V
Monday, May 17, 2010 ::
0 Comments
On Saturday I got the same Yes on Measure V piece that was hand delivered earlier. I know Art is out working on it very hard -- but I voted No.
It is interesting to note that the photographer got the shot of the woman reading on the front lawn and in the background are all the people meeting for the photo shoot inside the library. You can clearly see Mrs. Talkington and I number of other people standing there on the steps.
Love some of these people but I am still voting no.
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NRA makes big move in US Senate Race
Monday, May 17, 2010 ::
0 Comments
For gun owners the orange cards are important. Stand in front of polling places and watch people take them inside. This is why I think Carly wins the GOP nomination.
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Dear 4H Parents
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Ok. I am getting a number of e-mails from 4-H Parents. Thought I would go ahead and post my response to some of their e-mails.
Parent:
I am in favor of making reductions in the Co-Op Extension. A program that justifies its existence by pointing out that they write books on camp counseling and that they send out master gardener newsletters — in my opinion, needs to be trimmed. Unfortunately, if Co-Op Extension is telling people that if their budget is reduced, they will make the choice to cut 4-H, then that will be their choice.
This program’s members consider themselves to be tenured faculty that are able to allocate public tax dollars in any way that they choose.
If they make the calculation that they will threaten a cut to 4-H programs in order to create political support to save something like writing camp counseling books, then they are sorely mistaken.
I am curious why I got a number of e-mails from parents of 4-H students.
In the end, I don’t see how 4-H gets cut. At this moment I am prepared to eliminate the entire Yolo County subsidy for the Co-Op extension and send it all to a 4-H program that is run by the county — or better yet to a private entity.
Please feel free to forward this to anyone you like. I am going to cut and paste it to the other e-mails I received just after yours.
Matt
--
Matt Rexroad
711 College Street
Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 662-5184 home office
(800) 540-0436 fax
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Marble in the Mail
Sunday, May 09, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Dr. Bill Marble was smart. Jenn and I are both absentee voters and he had a piece in our mailbox on Saturday.
Here is one side of the 8.5x11 postcard.
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Mail at the Rexroads
Sunday, May 09, 2010 ::
0 Comments
I don't think this piece was mailed. It was dropped at my door on Saturday. It is well done but I am voting No.
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Morale Issue?
Thursday, May 06, 2010 ::
1 Comments
Here were some of the e-mails I have gotten since the board meeting yesterday with the identifying information removed.
I do think it is a morale issue. Some of these people I do not know.
At this point I am done with this issue. I lost, that is the way it goes. However, we do have a morale issue.
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Quite a few people throughout the county offices were listening to the Board meeting today. Most of us don’t understand how they think they can keep their current level of assistants along with their extensive benefits and it’s not a morale issue. It may not be to them but it is to the rest of us. If someone in your office would produce a graph of departments and amount of employees from approximately 1997 rather than 2007 it would be quite startling. Using 2007 is in no way accurate.
Most of us in my office have not said anything to date because we understand the budget issues and we do not want our comments to reflect badly on our office or the XXXXX. At this point we feel that we will have to express ourselves . Their comments are almost an insult to our intelligence.
Thank you for letting me voice my opinion and please let me know if there will be a meeting with the board where they will show department growth over the last 10 years.
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Thank you for trying. You did speak on behalf of many.
_____________
You do fight the good fight!
I don’t agree with you on where the money you save should go but you raised an issue that needed to be addressed.
Thank you,
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Mr. Rexroad-
I watched the meeting via the intranet and wanted to thank you for being a lone voice in the wilderness for the county employees. While I am aware that I do not know all the ins and outs of a Board member’s job it is telling that no one else was willing to even consider downsizing the size of their staff. Perhaps the other members are correct and they could not perform their duties with any reduction in staff, but it does present an “entitlement” image to the other county employees.
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Supervisor Rexroad,
You are 1000% correct that there is a huge morale issue regarding the fact that your department has not considered eliminating the Assistant Deputy position. I applaud you for bringing this issue up and only wish you had more support.
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Congratulations Matt on addressing a budget question that has been bothering a large number of my staff. Will the Board address their own staffing which many have seen grow significantly over the time many have been here? Surprised some Supervisors have not heard the grumbling.
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You are right on Matt! I appreciate your leadership.
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…it is a morale issue countywide. Thank you, Matt.
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A Yolo County Book
Tuesday, May 04, 2010 ::
0 Comments
I like Maceo Montoya. He is a cool guy.
He is the artist that did the mural near Fourth and Main.
When I got an e-mail about his new book coming out I ordered right away. It sat for a short time on my shelf but then I got caught one night with my primary book upstairs with my sleeping family. Not wanting to wake them I picked up The Scoundrel and the Optimist. Since then I have not read any other book. It has taken me much longer to read than it should due to a time crunch -- but it is a great book.
You can check out his website for the book here.
This book is easy to read. It has good use of language and some funny characters.
If you take the time to read please consider the following cast for the movie --
Filastro (fat, drunk, lazy) -- Art Pimentel
Edmund -- Bill Marble
Tres Pasos -- Neal Peart
Mom - Dotty Huber
Tomato -- Skip Davies
Jorge El Gato - yet to be determined but maybe The Realist
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Skip Davies Sign
Sunday, April 25, 2010 ::
1 Comments
My Skip Davies for City Council sign arrived today.
Proud to have it my yard.
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If not this -- then what?
Saturday, April 24, 2010 ::
1 Comments
An article in the Daily Democrat today accurately recorded the comments on the discussion yesterday about a professional trapper being employed by Yolo County.
The cost of this is over $50,000.
Here is my frustration with the whole debate -- if we are not going to cut this then we have no chance of reducing spending in county government.
My goal is to make county government (in fact all government) smaller.
We need to look for services to eliminate that are ---
1) Paid for with general fund dollars (trapper yes)
2) Not constitutionally required (trapper is not)
3) Able to be provided by a private sector business (trapper yes)
So if not the trapper then what?
People say that this is part of the service that the county provides to those people in the rural areas.
Look - part of the rural lifestyle is animals. Wild ones. You choose to live there -- you get the animals that go with it.
People say that we must support agriculture with the trapper.
So we are against government subsidies of industry unless it is agriculture? Silly.
Then I have people saying a mountain lion has been sighted somewhere. Ok. I am sure that is the case somewhere. The appropriate fact would be how many mountain lions have been caught. That answer is ZERO.
Finally, it took me about five minutes to decide I was going to see if a private sector alternative is available and be talking to a professional trapper on the phone.
It costs about $300 for a raccoon to be removed from your house. Costs a little more to trap a beaver.
Some of these other animals can be shot.
Government has to provide the service of criminal prosecution and public safety in my mind. Animal services can be provided be the private sector and can be paid for by the individual. Let them do it.
In a time of enormous budget cuts (and at any time we are looking to shrink government) it is time to get rid of services just like this one.
The animal trapper needs to not be funded.
It is hard for me to hear people that yell and scream for smaller more limited government right up until a service that fits the criteria above is involved that they don't want to pay for -- and then it is somehow critical to public safety.
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Voting No on City Sales Tax
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 ::
2 Comments
You might have noticed that webmaster Bob has updated my recommendations for the upcoming election. They are over to the right.
One issue that many people have discussed with me the city sales tax. After much thought I will be voting No and encouraging others to do the same.
Leslie Marcus even has a well-written op-ed that was in the Democrat on part of it. You can read it here. I just disagree.
Now some of your are probably screaming "that Rexroad votes no on all taxes. He is just that way." Let me remind you who worked very hard on Measure T to pass the school bond in 1999 and supported the sales tax increase to fund the Community Center, Police Station, and Library. There are very few people in this community that have worked harder than I have to work to improve the community when it is warranted. This time I do not think it is.
Clearly Vice-Mayor Pimentel will send me a nasty gram for this post but I don't care.
The reality is that it is a terrible time to raise taxes. Some will try to minimize it to say it is only a few pennies here and there but that would justify most any increase. That is not a good enough reason.
I will be voting No on the increase in sales tax.
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Dear Editor
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Love seeing letters to the editor from people that are not informed. Thomas Barth has one today.
Could have sent me an e-mail. Could have called. Didn't do either. Just shot his mouth off on the editorial page. You can read it here. Actions speak louder than words.
Mr. Barth should consider the following ---
1) I am the newest member of a statewide committee of the California State Association of Counties that is focused on the Williamson Act.
2) Helen and I do value the Williamson Act. I took action as a member of the CSAC Board of Directors to involve the entire organization in seeking full funding of the subvention. That was the day after the meeting that occurred. Didn't see Thomas Barth at that one. In fact, I don't even know who Thomas Barth is and why he isn't doing more on the Williamson Act. Action speak louder than words.
Matt Rexroad is a Woodland resident.
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This is funny
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Today the Daily Democrat has a piece by Yolo County Presiding Judge Dave Rosenberg and Court Administrative Office Jim Perry. They sent me an advanced copy last week.
They make some great points but what I find funny is -- that if I were writing op-eds about decisions before the judges probably both of these men would think I was stepping outside of my scope as a Supervisor.
You can read their piece here.
I am thinking of doing a review of some of the criminal sentences handed down in the last year -- of course that will only be to comment on the impact they are having on the county jail, probation, and social services.
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Party at my house for Cass Sylvia
Sunday, April 11, 2010 ::
0 Comments
Jenn and I are having a party for Yolo County Public Guardian Cass Sylvia on Thursday. After you get done paying your taxes come on by the house. The announcement section above has the information.
Shhhhh..don't tell Jenn.
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Ballot Measures round 562
Sunday, April 11, 2010 ::
0 Comments
I have spent four years on the Woodland City Council and three on the Board of Supervisors. This time of year I always get to be the lone No vote on taking positions on several ballot propositions.
One year Flory joined me and voted No when I was on the City Council. Every other time it has just been me voting No.
On Tuesday Supervisor Provenza has put a resolution to oppose Prop 16 on our agenda. I oppose Prop 16 too. I also hate PG&E. I just don't think local governments should be endorsing political candidates or measures.
Some of you will clearly be saying to yourself that "But this impacts local government. We need to take a position."
Nope.
I would argue that Jerry Brown is bad for local government. In fact, I think even a majority of my colleagues might agree with that. So why don't we just endorse for Governor too? We can just take a position as a county that we want "Anyone but Jerry Brown". That is good for local government yet almost everyone would say that is inappropriate.
It is wrong for local governments to get involved in the political process. I personally don't see the distinction between ballot measures and candidates. Thus, I will be voting no regarding Yolo County's position on Prop 16 but will be working privately to see Prop 16 defeated.
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Pensions
Sunday, April 11, 2010 ::
2 Comments
The news today has two stories about pensions that are worth reading.
One is about Stanislaus County in the Modesto Bee and the other is in the Fresno Bee and covers several governmental entities..
The pension costs for public employees are not sustainable.
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Skip Davies is Solid
Wednesday, April 07, 2010 ::
1 Comments
A very small number of you are getting all wrapped up about the letter that Skip Davies wrote. I don't agree with the letter. I would not have written the letter. However, I will stick by Skip Davies every time.
Skip Davies is a legend in Woodland for the right reasons. We are lucky he is Mayor. I have not seen one person so far comment with their name on the line anything negative about Skip Davies that has done more than two hours worth of work in this community.
The people that actually work to make Woodland a better place to live, work, and raise a family will accept the apology offered by a decent man and move on. Why? Because Skip is a good, honest man that has earned the right to make a mistake.
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