For the veterans, with a sincere thank you:
Thursday, November 12, 2009
For the veterans
Despite being in the office, Second Thoughts took Veterans Day off from blogging, even though Veterans Day would be one of the most appropriate days of the year to exercise the Freedom of the Press fought for by generations of Americans.
For the veterans, with a sincere thank you:
For the veterans, with a sincere thank you:
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Our very own UFO
The best call of the week (so far) came Monday night on my cell phone.
An excited man told me he had the "story of the century": There were lights in the sky — maybe a UFO — and he had the video to back him up. Unfortunately, he didn't come by the Press this morning to share.
Not that he's alone. Plenty people called the Press saying they'd seen various lights in the Monday night sky southeast of the city.
The most vivid description came from a man whom I talked to in the Press lobby. He described a rotating dark blue light hovering above a field off Chrisman Road, with the light becoming stronger or fainter depending on how fast the oval, saucer-shaped thing spun. Far from looking or sounding crazy, he said that he brought several other people out to witness the strange event, and that there were plenty of folks who observed the exact same thing and would corroberate his testimony.
He was totally sincere, and — let me repeat — did not seem crazy.
It's clear that these people saw something — and Second Thoughts would love to get its hands on video footage, if it exists.
Left to make stabs in the dark, I'm guessing one of three things:
• This is just another reminder that we all need to take our perscription medication.
• Someone, somewhere, has a lot of explaining to do about their latest "science project."
• Aliens from Nebular 5x are secretly plotting our demise.
Tongue-in-cheek aside, what's certain is that something pretty strange went on Monday night, though exactly what that is is anyone's guess.
Personally, I'm betting on the Nebular 5x guys.
An excited man told me he had the "story of the century": There were lights in the sky — maybe a UFO — and he had the video to back him up. Unfortunately, he didn't come by the Press this morning to share.
Not that he's alone. Plenty people called the Press saying they'd seen various lights in the Monday night sky southeast of the city.
The most vivid description came from a man whom I talked to in the Press lobby. He described a rotating dark blue light hovering above a field off Chrisman Road, with the light becoming stronger or fainter depending on how fast the oval, saucer-shaped thing spun. Far from looking or sounding crazy, he said that he brought several other people out to witness the strange event, and that there were plenty of folks who observed the exact same thing and would corroberate his testimony.
He was totally sincere, and — let me repeat — did not seem crazy.
It's clear that these people saw something — and Second Thoughts would love to get its hands on video footage, if it exists.
Left to make stabs in the dark, I'm guessing one of three things:
• This is just another reminder that we all need to take our perscription medication.
• Someone, somewhere, has a lot of explaining to do about their latest "science project."
• Aliens from Nebular 5x are secretly plotting our demise.
Tongue-in-cheek aside, what's certain is that something pretty strange went on Monday night, though exactly what that is is anyone's guess.
Personally, I'm betting on the Nebular 5x guys.
City Council campaign kickoff
Larry Hite, the inspector/contractor/frequent contributor to the Tracy Press Voice section, is taking another stab at the City Council in 2010.
Hite's been a feature of local races the past two election cycles — bowing out of the mayor's race in deference to Brent Ives in 2006, and losing to Mike Maciel and Steve Abercrombie in the 2008 go-around.
This year, he'll be seeking one of two seats up for grabs, that of Vice Mayor Suzanne Tucker or Councilwoman Evelyn Tolbert. Hite's first fundraiser is scheduled for Dec. 9 at Famous Dave's.
In other campaign news, this space has heard rumors that Tolbert might not seek another term. Though Second Thoughts didn't endorse her for mayor in 2008, she's a strong, smart member of the council, and this space hopes she decides to defend her seat.
Hite's been a feature of local races the past two election cycles — bowing out of the mayor's race in deference to Brent Ives in 2006, and losing to Mike Maciel and Steve Abercrombie in the 2008 go-around.
This year, he'll be seeking one of two seats up for grabs, that of Vice Mayor Suzanne Tucker or Councilwoman Evelyn Tolbert. Hite's first fundraiser is scheduled for Dec. 9 at Famous Dave's.
In other campaign news, this space has heard rumors that Tolbert might not seek another term. Though Second Thoughts didn't endorse her for mayor in 2008, she's a strong, smart member of the council, and this space hopes she decides to defend her seat.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Forgot the 'could be worse' part
In last night's post on Tuesday's City Council meeting, I talked about the Cloud of Doom hanging over City Hall, but not on the silver lining.
I swear, it's there, even if it's only a sliver. But at 12:30 a.m. after a raft of Simpler Times, it's a little harder to see.
The silver lining is that the city of Tracy isn't as down the hole as a lot of other cities. There's still a few million dollars in the rainy day fund that can help bridge small budget gaps for another couple years, putting us light years ahead of Stockton. And Vallejo — it of bankruptcy fame — isn't even in our galactic neighborhood.
Furthermore, if the city can survive on a bread-and-water diet for a couple years without the place going completely to hell, when the economic picture gets rosier Tracy will have a lean, less wasteful base on which to expand.
There, that's better. You may now resume rending garments and gnashing teeth.
I swear, it's there, even if it's only a sliver. But at 12:30 a.m. after a raft of Simpler Times, it's a little harder to see.
The silver lining is that the city of Tracy isn't as down the hole as a lot of other cities. There's still a few million dollars in the rainy day fund that can help bridge small budget gaps for another couple years, putting us light years ahead of Stockton. And Vallejo — it of bankruptcy fame — isn't even in our galactic neighborhood.
Furthermore, if the city can survive on a bread-and-water diet for a couple years without the place going completely to hell, when the economic picture gets rosier Tracy will have a lean, less wasteful base on which to expand.
There, that's better. You may now resume rending garments and gnashing teeth.
Could be worse, could be better
Sat through the DVD of Tuesday's City Council meeting, in which various department heads went before the council and proffered their budget-cutting strategies.
First reaction was that it could be worse, but it still ain't going to be pretty.
The city's faced with the dreaded damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-do decision: It must cut costs, which means it must cut services, since the other option is a politicall unpopular fee or tax hike (something that might happen anyway).
No matter what services get the ax, or even just a shave, someone out there is going to notice. And complain.
Plenty of people say they want bare-bones tax rates, even though they also tend to not like bare-bones city services.
Well, services are going to get trimmed. It's going to be a reminder that you get what you pay for.
First reaction was that it could be worse, but it still ain't going to be pretty.
The city's faced with the dreaded damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-do decision: It must cut costs, which means it must cut services, since the other option is a politicall unpopular fee or tax hike (something that might happen anyway).
No matter what services get the ax, or even just a shave, someone out there is going to notice. And complain.
Plenty of people say they want bare-bones tax rates, even though they also tend to not like bare-bones city services.
Well, services are going to get trimmed. It's going to be a reminder that you get what you pay for.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Defending Delta isn't just about the fish
Just a couple more reminders — straight from those who are living proof — that asking legislators to protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from the voracious needs of Parts Previously Unwatered is not a Fish vs. People issue...
Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Associations:
"The Bay-Delta is not a reservoir; it is the most important estuary on the West coast and gives life to many of our coastal fisheries. With this bill, the health of the delta and our fisheries lies with an unfunded council with no authority. The majority of its members will be appointed by the governor, and Schwarzenegger has made it clear he is willing to drain the delta if it means more water for land speculators and developers. We have little faith this council will support and act on the pressing needs of our delta and our fisheries, especially if it means putting a halt to the south's attempts at a water grab. This back-room, special-interest bill is fishy for sure, but definitely not because it will restore our industry to its former health."
...
"Destroying the Bay-Delta, as a peripheral canal and new diversions would do, makes the sheer environmental destruction of Hetch Hetchy Valley pale in comparison."
Larry Collins, president of the San Francisco Crab Boat Owners Association:
"After months of special interests distorting the facts about our water woes, the Legislature went behind closed doors and came up with this stinking dead fish of a package that is sure to continue draining the Delta and killing what is left of our salmon fishery."
...
"The simple fact is that this legislation will cause the Delta to collapse and turn the San Francisco Bay estuary into a cesspool, undoing decades of work to restore the Bay to good health. Westlands Water District, private land developers, and the governor all deserve a special place in hell for engineering the destruction of Northern California’s ecosystems."
Real strong words from real people who will be hit hard by the continued damming, draining and diverting of the Delta. And let's not forget those who actually call the Delta home.
Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Associations:
"The Bay-Delta is not a reservoir; it is the most important estuary on the West coast and gives life to many of our coastal fisheries. With this bill, the health of the delta and our fisheries lies with an unfunded council with no authority. The majority of its members will be appointed by the governor, and Schwarzenegger has made it clear he is willing to drain the delta if it means more water for land speculators and developers. We have little faith this council will support and act on the pressing needs of our delta and our fisheries, especially if it means putting a halt to the south's attempts at a water grab. This back-room, special-interest bill is fishy for sure, but definitely not because it will restore our industry to its former health."
...
"Destroying the Bay-Delta, as a peripheral canal and new diversions would do, makes the sheer environmental destruction of Hetch Hetchy Valley pale in comparison."
Larry Collins, president of the San Francisco Crab Boat Owners Association:
"After months of special interests distorting the facts about our water woes, the Legislature went behind closed doors and came up with this stinking dead fish of a package that is sure to continue draining the Delta and killing what is left of our salmon fishery."
...
"The simple fact is that this legislation will cause the Delta to collapse and turn the San Francisco Bay estuary into a cesspool, undoing decades of work to restore the Bay to good health. Westlands Water District, private land developers, and the governor all deserve a special place in hell for engineering the destruction of Northern California’s ecosystems."
Real strong words from real people who will be hit hard by the continued damming, draining and diverting of the Delta. And let's not forget those who actually call the Delta home.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Full steam ahead for peaker plant upgrade
According to this report, GWF Energy's effort to turn the Tracy Peaker Plant into a combined-cycle facility is moving right along.
With the California Energy Commission staff giving their green light, saying the project meets all laws, organizations and standards, locals can expect to soon have a bigger (some say better) power plant on the western fringe of town.
For more takes on the plant expansion, visit here and here.
With the California Energy Commission staff giving their green light, saying the project meets all laws, organizations and standards, locals can expect to soon have a bigger (some say better) power plant on the western fringe of town.
For more takes on the plant expansion, visit here and here.
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