Quality-of-Life straw poll

[VF21]

I'm just curious to see what the feeling is right now among Kingsfans.com members. So, I'm starting a PUBLIC straw poll. That means your vote will be visible.

I'm going to separate the Sac County voters and the out-of-the-area people responses, so please take a moment and read the poll before you answer.

 

[LPKingsFan]

First Sac Co. resident to say yes. Booyah.

And to add: it's not perfect, but it's what we have. Vote yes if you want to Kings to stay. Simple as that.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Sucks for me, I'm right on the border of the Sac city limits and Rancho city limits...literally, if you cross the street, you're in Rancho. But, that being said, I, of course, and would vote an emphatic 'YES'. So, because of me not getting a vote, I'm donating alot of my time, already, for public education of this.

 

[Ryle]

Sucks for me, I'm right on the border of the Sac city limits and Rancho city limits...literally, if you cross the street, you're in Rancho. But, that being said, I, of course, and would vote an emphatic 'YES'. So, because of me not getting a vote, I'm donating alot of my time, already, for public education of this.

I work in Folsom and a co-worker and I decided we will be working day and night in October so I'm just going to have to take up "residence" in his apartment to be closer to the office .

While I'm there I may as well register to vote since I won't be close to my home in Placer County

 

[love_them_kings]

I work in Folsom and a co-worker and I decided we will be working day and night in October so I'm just going to have to take up "residence" in his apartment to be closer to the office .

While I'm there I may as well register to vote since I won't be close to my home in Placer County

now that's the level of dedication I admire!

Why don't you register me there as well? I live in Placer Co & would LOVE to be able to vote!

 

[Purple Reign]

VF21,

Do you think this would be an accurate reflection of the general public? Considering, a large portion of us are Kings Fans?

Because i am going to be honest. Based on everything I read and see and hear, this is going to be a battle. I am pretty pestimistic on this day 8/4/06. Tomorrow could be different.

 

[Kingsgurl]

Sucks for me, I'm right on the border of the Sac city limits and Rancho city limits...literally, if you cross the street, you're in Rancho. But, that being said, I, of course, and would vote an emphatic 'YES'. So, because of me not getting a vote, I'm donating alot of my time, already, for public education of this.

It's a County measure, you don't need to live in the city to vote. Both Rancho and Folsom are in Sac county

 

[LPKingsFan]

Of course its not an accurate sample of Sacramentans. Her stated purpose was to see how it stacks up among Kings Fans members. To be fair, we should go start a poll at Arena Skeptics.com then average the two out

And don't be too pessimistic now. There's plenty of time until November. Once the formalities get worked out with the Supervisors, I expect the Maloofs and city to have a massive PR campaign in the works.

 

[GreenKing]

Taxes are to help the people of the city, not the sports teams and their owners. If this city didn't have the problems that it currently has I would vote yes. But since they are pushing this now and at this time I will vote No.

 

[Kingsgurl]

Since a sports and entertainment complex would benefit the city AND half the tax money raised could go to address those problems you are refering too, what's the problem again? You would prefer no arena and keep the problems? How is that a better solution?

 

[GreenKing]

I would prefer to live in a city that I can feel safe in. A city I could walk anywhere at any hour and not have to worry about being gunned down or assaulted. Look at how the rehibilitation is going for the K street mall. Wonderful example of all the false promises and hopes. They told us that K street mall would be a great mall. There used to be thursday night markets and people went there. But what happened? Ahh yes the hood took over and the violence closed it down. Yet the area has had millions of dollars thrown at it and it's still a Stinker. Just because there will be a new arena on land that is toxic doesnt mean all the problems in sacramento will go away even with a few dollars earmarked for these problems. Just a few weeks ago there was a gang shootout in front of the K-Street mall. Sacramento has a lot of problems that it needs to take care of, and throwing 500 million dollars at an arena and improvements in the infrasturcture of a superfund site wont do a lick of good. If this city had a grip on it's debt and it's infrastructure was top notch I would be for the arena. But the city is going farther and farther into the red. Violence in this city is out of controll. Sacramento has a lot more urgent issues to deal with than buying an arena for the rich and putting the cost off on the rest of us.

 

[D-Mass]

I would prefer to live in a city that I can feel safe in. A city I could walk anywhere at any hour and not have to worry about being gunned down or assaulted. Look at how the rehibilitation is going for the K street mall. Wonderful example of all the false promises and hopes. They told us that K street mall would be a great mall. There used to be thursday night markets and people went there. But what happened? Ahh yes the hood took over and the violence closed it down. Yet the area has had millions of dollars thrown at it and it's still a Stinker. Just because there will be a new arena on land that is toxic doesnt mean all the problems in sacramento will go away even with a few dollars earmarked for these problems. Just a few weeks ago there was a gang shootout in front of the K-Street mall. Sacramento has a lot of problems that it needs to take care of, and throwing 500 million dollars at an arena and improvements in the infrasturcture of a superfund site wont do a lick of good. If this city had a grip on it's debt and it's infrastructure was top notch I would be for the arena. But the city is going farther and farther into the red. Violence in this city is out of controll. Sacramento has a lot more urgent issues to deal with than buying an arena for the rich and putting the cost off on the rest of us.

And where do you propose the money for more police will come from?

 

[Kingsgurl]

You skirted my question. How would it be better for the city NOT to raise money which could, in part, be used to address the problems you are worried about?

 

[GreenKing]

Roughly on any give shift in the county of sacramento there are 6 police officers for every 100,000 people. If that number seems ok to you then you need to wake up and smell the roses. Why isn't there a discussion on adding a tax towards adding more police? Noone wants to add a tax that would actually help the city. Yet when they start getting upset becuase people dont agree with the lemming approach to the arena they get railed on.

 

[Kingsgurl]

AGAIN with the dodge. This tax isn't just about the arena. It will also raise money which could be used to boost law enforcement, if that's one of the areas they decide most needs the extra money. AGAIN, would you prefer that NOTHING was done? What if they presented a breakdown on what programs the money raised by the tax would benefit? Would that change your mind? Or have you made up your mind emphatically already?

 

[GreenKing]

You skirted my question. How would it be better for the city NOT to raise money which could, in part, be used to address the problems you are worried about?

Go spend a few hours on 12th street between the lightrail platform and Loaves and fishes. Tell me how an arena deal will help the poorest of the poor? It wont. There will still be a growing population of homeless and mentally ill people walking the streets. Crime in this city keeps going up. How will a new arena on the corner of downtown impove the lives of the forgotten?

Everyone sees as far as the end of their noses. It's america where we are only out there for the benifit of ourselves. It's sad that people would put an arena on a pedistal yet ignore the people in this city that get stepped on every day.

 

[Kingsgurl]

You do realize that only part of the money raised goes to the Arena? and that the projected 100's of millions of dollars that don't could be used to address the very things you keep bringing up. That's money that wouldn't be there otherwise, which does NOTHING to help with the problems you are concerned about.

Your solution is, what? Do nothing and watch the problems worsen?

 

[GreenKing]

With voter turn out being so low in this city, this proposal has to swim uphill. 2/3 approval from the few people who do show up to vote. Those few voters that actually vote and take part in the American political system will vote no. So I might not be mr. popularity but the stats dont lie. I would love to see 100% Voter turn out. Who cares what you vote as long as you vote. But there lies the problem. Most americans are choosing not to vote these days so that small percentage of us who do vote have more of a say so. Good luck getting 2/3!

 

[kennadog]

Go spend a few hours on 12th street between the lightrail platform and Loaves and fishes. Tell me how an arena deal will help the poorest of the poor? It wont. There will still be a growing population of homeless and mentally ill people walking the streets. Crime in this city keeps going up. How will a new arena on the corner of downtown impove the lives of the forgotten?

Everyone sees as far as the end of their noses. It's america where we are only out there for the benifit of ourselves. It's sad that people would put an arena on a pedistal yet ignore the people in this city that get stepped on every day.

So you must be voting for the sales tax, but against the arena, right?

That way all the money can go to what you deem are the city's proper priorities. Sales tax is about the only avenue for cities to raise more revenue.

And by the way, you make a lot of assumptions about arena supporters and really should knock it off. I have devoted a 30-year career to programs that help the poor. I pay taxes and make donations to fund programs for the poor, including Loaves and Fishes. As a young, single mother, I was poor. Do I understand? At least as well as you do, thank you.

 

[Kingsgurl]

It's majority, not 2/3 and what the heck does voter turnout have to do with the questions I posed to you? I am really curious what steps those proposing the measure could take that would address the concerns of people in your camp?

 

[kennadog]

Roughly on any give shift in the county of sacramento there are 6 police officers for every 100,000 people. If that number seems ok to you then you need to wake up and smell the roses. Why isn't there a discussion on adding a tax towards adding more police? Noone wants to add a tax that would actually help the city. Yet when they start getting upset becuase people dont agree with the lemming approach to the arena they get railed on.

So vote for the increase and against the arena. Duh!

 

[GreenKing]

It's majority, not 2/3 and what the heck does voter turnout have to do with the questions I posed to you? I am really curious what steps those proposing the measure could take that would address the concerns of people in your camp?

Actually us voters voted on the 2/3 to pass for new taxes. And well what good do the laws we have in place do us if we are not going to follow them. They might try and pass this off as a majority vote but the courts will spit it out and say NO. Judges follow the rule of the law. ANd the people of sacramento have made their voices loud and clear. 2/3 vote for new taxes.

 

[kennadog]

The 2/3rds will be questioned, no doubt. Of course, I think its an extremely undemocratic law in the first place. Democracy should be simple majority, period. 2/3rds leads to tyranny of the minority as you have pointed out. Not to mention crippling government's ability to raise revenue to solve anything.

By the way its not 2/3rds for new taxes. Its 2/3rds for special taxes.

 

[1kingzfan]

Tell me how an arena deal will help the poorest of the poor? It wont. There will still be a growing population of homeless and mentally ill people walking the streets. Crime in this city keeps going up. How will a new arena on the corner of downtown impove the lives of the forgotten?

See the other thread you posted in, for a response to that first statement.

If there were no programs to fund a growing police staff and equipment and capabilities, no programs to help the homeless and poor, nothing to assist the mentally ill, then I'd be with you on this one.

But there are.

You need to understand what it takes to manage and run a City. Our leaders have to weigh in on everything. Now, we can argue about the relative size of contributions of one program versus another, but the point is that all these programs need to continue in order for the quality of life in our city to continue to improve.

Our City leaders are looking for the biggest bang for the buck to make a difference in the community. A new arena impacts EVERYONE positively, whether or not you ever set foot in it.

 

[1kingzfan]

Actually us voters voted on the 2/3 to pass for new taxes.

And had it required a 2/3 vote to pass that little gem of a boondoggle, that 2/3 thing-y would not be on the books.

In any event, it does not apply in the case of the proposal at hand.

 

[GreenKing]

And had it required a 2/3 vote to pass that little gem of a boondoggle, that 2/3 thing-y would not be on the books.

In any event, it does not apply in the case of the proposal at hand.

Even if the 2/3 voter approval gets nixed 1/2 is still more than enough to keep it from passing. But I seriously doubt that the 2/3 voter approval will be sidestepped. We voted to make sure that new taxes didn't get put on us for non essential items. And a new arena is not a life or death issue so good luck with the 2/3 vote.

 

[Kingsgurl]

We shall see. See you at the polls

 

[GreenKing]

We shall see. See you at the polls

I dont care how you vote. But it does make me smile that you are going to the polls.

 

[love_them_kings]

And had it required a 2/3 vote to pass that little gem of a boondoggle, that 2/3 thing-y would not be on the books.

In any event, it does not apply in the case of the proposal at hand.

I know, it's very ironic that 58% of the people could vote in a mandate that special taxes require 2/3 of the vote... there's something just wrong about that!

 

[love_them_kings]

Even if the 2/3 voter approval gets nixed 1/2 is still more than enough to keep it from passing. But I seriously doubt that the 2/3 voter approval will be sidestepped. We voted to make sure that new taxes didn't get put on us for non essential items. And a new arena is not a life or death issue so good luck with the 2/3 vote.

obviously we're all talking in circles here, but the way I see it is this. By passing the new tax we could get an arena for the team we love, plus raise money that could be spent on programs for the poor, police staffing, etc. Seems like a win-win to me.

Or, we can vote no on both measures, have no tax increase, thereby helping nothing and allowing things to continue to decline. Where's the value in that?