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Articles from
December 2009
Predictions 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009 ::
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Here are my predictions for 2010 ----
1) President Obama becomes more focused and learns to pick his battles. His numbers go up.
2) Republicans pick up seats in Congress but not enough to take over.
3) The City of Woodland faces major issues with employee unions over cuts in all departments. Police and Fire will be unhappy.
4) Bobby Harris runs for City Council.
5) Art Pimentel becomes Mayor. People from Woodland long for the days of Skip Davies and Dave Flory.
6) Dotty Huber yells at me.
7) Don Saylor is elected to the Board of Supervisors from Davis.
8) When Helen Thomson retires from the Board of Supervisors it will be like a parade of VIPs from all over the region to celebrate her career. During the celebration Duane Chamberlain will say something we all wish he wouldn't have said. Duane doesn't seem to mind.
9) A ground water ordinance is not adopted. A new water club is formed that looks a lot liek what Matt Rexroad proposed two years ago but could not even get a second on his motion.
10) McLovin' turns out to be Art Pimentel.
11) We have a brutal election for Woodland School Board and quiet elections for City Council.
12) The economy stops going down ...but does not really go up either.
13) Ten members of Congress lose their seats to members of their own party when they are challenged in their own primary.
14) The Libertarian and Green parties grow in registrations.
15) Skip Davies is elected Vice-Mayor as people demand that someone save the city from Art Pimentel.
16) Steve Poizner wins the Republican nomination for Governor.
17) Any ballot measure that spends money gets voted down by large margins.
18) The Williamson Act ceases to exist in California.
19) We end up with strikes by City and School district employees. The County does not have strikes.
20) Dustin Pedroia is welcomed back to Woodland with open arms. Skip Davies sets the tone for the community on this.
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Two important articles today in the newspaper
Sunday, December 27, 2009 ::
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The Daily Democrat had an article today about Yolo County's new CAO Patrick Blacklock. You can read that here.
Probably more importantly, the Sacramento Bee had an article about Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig. Read that here.
I talked to this reporter for quite a while. He did quote me -- but he left out that I think Jeff Reisig has the strong support of the people of Yolo County in his anti-gang efforts. Further, a whole story could be done on the efficiencies that Reisig and Judge Rosenberg have made to our court system that has saved Yolo County millions of dollars.
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Bowl Game
Saturday, December 26, 2009 ::
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The following cities are hosting college football bowl games --
Boise, ID
Detroit, MI
Toronto, Canada
Birmingham, AL
Arlington, TX
El Paso, TX
So why can't Davis or Sacrament host a bowl game? I just watched on television as USC played in the Emerald Bowl at AT&T park where both teams shared the same sideline. What sort of third world country bowl game do you need to get assigned to where both teams share the same sideline?
Come on Davis. You have a new stadium.
How about the Genentech Bowl from Davis, CA?
I am sure I could think of some other potential sponsors for a bowl game in Davis.
When both teams are on the same sideline -- we are getting to the bottom of the barrel in terms of venues.
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I am so sorry
Saturday, December 26, 2009 ::
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Dear Woodland:
I am so sorry. When Jenn and I talked about getting Adam a drum set it really seemed like a good idea.
Adam is 3 years old. He has displayed some musical ability that we wanted to encourage. So when he wanted a drum set we thought that would be fine. It was a small drum set.
This morning I was outside of my house helping load my the car of my father in law. Good grief Charlie Brown you can hear those things outside just like you can inside.
To my neighbors and friends near 711 College Street -- I am sorry.
Sincerely,
Matt Rexroad
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Woodlander of the Year?
Thursday, December 24, 2009 ::
1 Comments
If we were to name a Woodlander of the Year 2009 -- who would it be?
What about top stories of 2009 in Woodland?
You can also send me Stinker of the Year 2009 nomnations. Looking for suggestions.
I am working on my Predictions for 2010 as well -- but I am not feeling it.
Post Comment or send to matt@rexroad.com
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Uh oh.....Politiclast
Monday, December 21, 2009 ::
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So I don't have any idea who McLovin' is. Today I get a call from a friend that tells me to check out the site and comments. Ok.
Well. Well. Check this out.
So who is Mark and why does it seem that everyone knows what is in this cartoon except for me? Oh well -- someone bring back Special K. Let's see someone dancing in Ross.
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This just looks wrong....
Monday, December 21, 2009 ::
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I saw this on the way to my business office today. It just looks wrong.
Doesn't it look like the one wire is holding the whole thing up?
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Campaign Kick-Off Event
Monday, December 21, 2009 ::
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We just booked my campaign kick-off event for 2010.
It will be at Tazzina Bistro in Woodland on Thursday, January 28th at 5:30. Invites will be mailed out after the first of the year.
It will be my first real push for fund raising in more than three years.
Just made my first round of sponsorship calls. Response had been great.
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Oldest Businesses in Region
Sunday, December 20, 2009 ::
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The Sacramento Business Journal has a list of the oldest businesses in the region. Three from Yolo County made the list --
11) The Daily Democrat
40) Corner Drug
42) Davis Enterprise
Newspapers dominated the rankings. That is probably more about the nature of the industry and the historical business practice of buying a circulation system.
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Yolobus on College Street
Sunday, December 20, 2009 ::
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Well -- I saw it. I saw my first passenger on Yolobus. It was actually about a week ago and I forgot to report it.
I was reminded of this today when I saw a bus with no one on it but the driver.
Amount of time bus route runs down College Street = probably a year or more.
Number of passengers Matt has seen = One.
Something is not right here.
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Standing up for Dote
Sunday, December 20, 2009 ::
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I have been a little tuned out lately to the bloggers over at Woodland Journal and Politiclast. After looking them over for the first time in a couple days I think a major part of their analysis is missing.
People can come to different conclusions on the issue before the City Council last week regarding the downtown. I get that. Argue away folks. I have no dog in that fight.
It is also fair to examine campaign contributions. That is one of the reasons I argue for full, immediate, and complete disclosure of every dollar contributed. Yet if people are going to start looking at these -- they need to give the issue a full analysis.
Pimentel can defend himself on this one. Look at his contributions and make whatever judgment you want.
Martie had a little different case in the last election. She raised money but she also had money indirectly spent against her. The people that funded the Independent Expenditure in favor of Frank Sieferman really didn't want Frank to win. They wanted Martie to lose.
This organization spend thousands of dollars trying to get Sieferman elected to the third open Council seat (following Pimentel and Monroe) in order to keep Martie off the Council.
I think people looked carefully at the 460s for candidates -- but they also need to look at the other political efforts to oppose Martie.
Every member of the Woodland City Council has accepted money from people in the development industry. If you call for Art and Martie and resign on recuse themselves then the entire Council should do the same.
Further, if an analysis is going to be done of the political campaigns for Council and the impact that may have on performance in office -- then look at the whole thing.
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Confession - I am an idiot.
Saturday, December 19, 2009 ::
2 Comments
On Wednesday I had several meetings in Southern California. My first one was at like 2pm. Flew in, got the rental car, and then went to my meeting. I followed that up with a couple conference calls.
My final meeting was at 6:30pm and then I was going to dash to the airport to get home. I ended up in front of the location for my 6:30 meeting at about 3:30. With three hours to kill I see an Applebees across the way. Perfect.
I told the hostess at the door I would be with them for a while and just needed a place to plug in my computer. The waiter was great to me. Lots of Diet Coke. Things were rolling.
So at around 6pm I ask for my check. I then make sure to leave a generous tip for putting up with me and head to the door.
At 6:45 I am in my meeting and reach into my bag to grab a written proposal. You know what is there in my computer bag? The whole little folder from Applebee's. The thing that they put the bill in. I took it. What kind of moron does that?
At the end of the meeting I wanted to go back to Applebees and give it back but I had to get to my plane. I choose waking up with the kids over turning it in. I thought about it.
So Thursday morning I mailed it back to them with a note and a self-imposed fine for being a moron. Why did anyone ever give me a grenade or the blasting caps?
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Politiclast has another new look
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 ::
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McLovin is everywhere. One look, then another look, now yet another....and even a little tribute to Rexy Sexy.
It is kind of like one of those friends where every time you go to their house they have moved the furniture around.
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All set
Monday, December 14, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I am all set for the meeting tomorrow. The most important topic on the agenda is the discussion we will have on the Williamson Act.
Jonathon Edwards has a great story about the issue today in the Davis Enterprise. I saw it on the county clips. I would link to it here but I don't get the Enterprise anymore and it is not available on their website.
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Soda Tax Comes to Davis
Monday, December 14, 2009 ::
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Tonight at the gym I was catching up on my NPR stories of the day. This one from October 14, 2009 popped up. It is recorded partially in Davis at Mace Market.
You can read and listen to the story here.
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Sue Anselmo
Saturday, December 12, 2009 ::
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I read last weekend about the death of Sue Anselmo. Her son Ray and I went to school together.
She was a nurse that struggled with poor health the past few years.
Rev. Wendy Watson from St. Luke's wrote this piece in the Democrat today. She did a great job of describing Sue.
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Check out my nose
Friday, December 11, 2009 ::
1 Comments
I just found my old UC Davis ID card from when I was a student in 1990-1992. I just cropped the picture below from it.
This was a summer that I spent working and working out. I did nothing else really. In the three years prior to this picture being taken I broke my nose multiple times. Check out how crooked it is.
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McLovin' -- What is the deal?
Sunday, December 06, 2009 ::
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Hey McLovin' -- you have been leaving us hanging.
Thanksgiving preview ---nothing. Nothing at all. In fact, the leftover turkey is all gone now. Christmas Trees are up. Lights are on houses.
So let's see Woodpile.
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Gaming on non-tribal land
Sunday, December 06, 2009 ::
1 Comments
The Daily Democrat has an editorial today that is interesting. In fact, it is interesting for a whole host of reasons.
The question is -- should gaming be allowed in non-trust land locations? At this point it would be a hard to do. However, there is no doubt in my mind that non-reservation gaming would be a far better for land use and transportation infrastructure.
Right now state policy is to located major entertainment venues in the rural parts of California. This creates huge impacts on the transportation and public safety infrastructure. This was a vote of the people that was largely controlled by urban areas of the state.
Would we ever consider building the new arena for the Sacramento Kings in the Capay Valley or in Colusa? Of course not. We would not do that because it makes poor land use and business sense. So why do we place venues that generate even more care trips than the Kings in remote places?
It would actually make sense to me to put in gaming zones. If we are going to have gaming then let's locate it in areas where we can consolidate public safety, transportation, and social services to serve the areas. This would also allow for more customers for the casinos.
As a non-gambler it really does not matter to me where the casinos are. As a taxpayer and policy maker/observer I think our current land use policies for the location of tribal gaming makes no sense at all.
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Festival of Trees
Sunday, December 06, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Last night at the Gibson Mansion we had the third annual festival of trees. What a great event.
Saw lots of active Woodlanders there. Ray and Sheila Groom, Al Eby and his better half, City Manager Mark Deven and his wife Shelley, Bill Marble, my favorite Flory -- Gerry Flory with a couple other random Florys, Ryan and Mindy Dodge, Olivia, Riley, Charles Mack and a host of others.
Tom Stallard was the auctioneer for the live auction. He did a great job as several hundred dollars was raised.
Meg Stallard and Dotty Huber were the chairs for the event and did a great job.
Nice work by a bunch of dedicated folks.
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Main Street Cafe
Sunday, December 06, 2009 ::
0 Comments
On Friday Adam and I went to the Christmas Tree lighting at City Hall. We got there about 15 minutes early so we went for a walk down Main Street.
As we were cruising along we came to a new place that was opening up at 537B Main Street. It is called Main Street Cafe'. They have a website here.
The owners were out passing out hot cider to people walking by. What nice people.
Adam and I will certainly be coming back because when they open soon they will have pancakes. Adam loves pancakes.
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Familes Need Trees
Wednesday, December 02, 2009 ::
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FAMILIES NEEDS CHRISTMAS TREES
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
YOLO WAYFARER CENTER
WOODLAND, CA. 95695
December 2, 2009
Dear Santa:
This year Woodland is in need of 14 Christmas Trees to provide a Merry Christmas to families in our Transitional Housing program.
If you can help please call the Wayfarer Center 530-661-1218 or Dave Flory at 530-554-0807, he will pick them up and have them delivered to deserving families.
Thank you,
Friends of Yolo Wayfarer Center
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Support the President in Afghanistan
Wednesday, December 02, 2009 ::
8 Comments
The past couple days for me have been a real struggle in my thinking about President Obama and his plans in Afghanistan.
One of my biggest issues with the President was that when he was running against Senator McCain he was pressed over and over again on the surge in Iraq. He refused to admit it was working and instead directed his comments to the decision to go to war in Iraq in the first place. It is my opinion that both were fair discussion points during the campaign and he refused to address one of them.
So as the President has announced his plans for Afghanistan in the short term I am a little shocked. This is the eastern version of the surge or Surge II as far as I am concerned.
It is easy for me to ridicule Speaker Pelosi for any support of this effort when she refused to really be much of a supporter of a similar effort in Iraq.
Here is the conclusion that I came to this morning. Although shocked by what I consider to be an inconsistency in logic I support the President in placing more troops in Afghanistan. The deadline for withdraw I would never agree with but that is a different issue.
The President is trying to win. This is his best judgment on how to do that. It may look like a play out of the playbook of Senator McCain but I support him in this effort because I think it is the right thing to do.
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