Ballots land; Menesini drops a MAGA-esque mailer; Ross grandstands on abortion; candidates talk affordable housing (but only because they have to) and put on a show at Campbell Theater
Thank you as always Craig for your insight into Martinez politics. We received Menesini’s flyer and it had tRump style all over it. Our city is not the hellscape he imagines it to be. I thought it was drowning in fear. Disgusting.
Last week I had a great conversation with Brianne Zorn about how to make a more welcoming city for POC and rather than empty platitudes she actually has a plan. She’s very pragmatic. It was a very long answer but possibly on her website she touches on it.
With rising home prices and rent steadily increasing along with it, the hope of ever owning a family home in Martinez looks dismal. Why doesn’t anyone bring up RENT CONTROL?? I attended the Campbell Theater forum. It wasn’t as crowded as I thought it wouid be. There were a lot of empty seats, so they didn’t have to shut the doors as early as they did. Can’t wait to hear your take on it. Most of the crowd left before the District 1 and 4 candidates took to the stage. One woman insisted that the night was only for the mayor candidates. So that happened too. Thanks for the light commentary this time. Appreciate it :)
Thank you for this valuable resource. Your tone and perspective are appreciated, not just your reporting of information. You have a local household of new and thankful readers.
Thoughts on the three candidates who, in 2018, voted YES for that gerrymandered, illegal, and embarrassing District Map. And, if they have the courage, their the response to why they voted for it in the first place.
I haven't yet decided who gets my vote for Mayor, but I believe your information about crime and robberies isn't correctly represented. All you have to do is talk to any employer at Home Depot and they'll tell you about all the "smash and grabs" they've had. Which is why you now see cages on most of their tools. We had that conversation last week when we saw all the weed eaters in cages. Same at Walmart. And I saw a kid at 7-11 running to his car with cases of cigarettes he'd just stolen after jumping the counter. Maybe no weapon was involved, but it's still crime. And then there's the home burglaries and catalytic converter thefts, NextDoor is full of these types of reports. So yes, crime in Martinez is increasing and it's a real issue.
I really appreciate your efforts putting all this information together for us (I'll be warding the Chamber video when it's released)! But when I signed up for your newsletter I thought you said it would be non partisan. While I appreciate satire and tongue in cheeck this one felt pretty partisan.
Appreciate your comments and criticism. If others believe the newsletter is becoming too opinionated, I’m happy to scale back. I want to make this valuable to the most number of people possible. If crime is on the rise, it should be easy enough to ascertain through police data. If it is the case, the question then becomes whether it has anything to do with decisions of city leaders or is reflective of societal trends.
Yeah, Craig, try to report not propogandize. Most of us here are looking for information, not you slant on it. That said, you could make a new newspaper which Mtz desperately needs. BTW the Onion paper (i am sure you have heard of it) is suing to protect the right to satyrize. I think that is at the Supreme Court right now.
I found a flyer from "Mike Menesini For Mayor 2022" on my front porch this afternoon. It's not as fear-mongering as the one put out by the Build Jobs PAC, but still focuses on crime. What I find interesting is that it focuses exclusively on "violent" crime. But the crime that affects most residents is the stuff like car break ins/burglaries, theft of catalytic converters, porch pirates, and people just walking out of stores with arm loads of merchandise ... crimes that "progressive" District Attorneys never seem to prosecute.
Do you mean like Contra Costa County's "progressive" district attorney who hit everyone involved in the Nordstrom's smash and grabs with felony charges and breezed to re-election in June? Do you have any evidence that she doesn't file charges against burglars and thieves?
"We made sure that everyone apprehended was hit with felony crimes including organized retail theft. That's one of the few places we have 100% filing rate. Everyone who is apprehended for that crime gets prosecuted."
Ok, she prosecuted the organized, headline-grabbing, smash-and-grab at Nordstroms. But I was referring to individuals who walk/run out of stores, like our local CVS or Home Depot ... both of which I've personally witnessed ... not mobs. Becton's comments in the sfgate article don’t address any of the four crimes I cited in my comment. However, she has clearly set a policy of not prosecuting "low level non-violent crimes", the category into which, I believe, those crimes are lumped.
Speaking of campaign mailers ... I just received a nice foldout mailer from Sean Trambley ... "What happened 49 years ago?". The answer is ... that's the last time our 10-year General Plan was updated. Yes, an update is long overdue. But Sean Trambley is the Chair of the Planning Commission ... and he's running to rectify the City's lack of planning?
On the topic of housing, please report on our homeless population. They were not included in the RHNA, but could be included in our efforts locally. A complete picture should tell about the interactions between the No-Income and the Very Low Income categories. For example, some employed people are un-housed, and also, some housed people can quickly become un-housed when their income drops.
I find it hilarious Mark Ross is claiming Measure F as the open space measure, when really it was an ad-hoc knee jerk trying to usurp the citizen Measure I. I am afraid you all will be stuck with Delaney, speaking of manifestations of the Assessor. She's not good inside, but I guess that is politicians. BTW, Rants and Raves does not like anyone intelligent. Dont worry Craig.
Thank you as always Craig for your insight into Martinez politics. We received Menesini’s flyer and it had tRump style all over it. Our city is not the hellscape he imagines it to be. I thought it was drowning in fear. Disgusting.
Last week I had a great conversation with Brianne Zorn about how to make a more welcoming city for POC and rather than empty platitudes she actually has a plan. She’s very pragmatic. It was a very long answer but possibly on her website she touches on it.
Anyway. Thanks for keeping us informed.
With rising home prices and rent steadily increasing along with it, the hope of ever owning a family home in Martinez looks dismal. Why doesn’t anyone bring up RENT CONTROL?? I attended the Campbell Theater forum. It wasn’t as crowded as I thought it wouid be. There were a lot of empty seats, so they didn’t have to shut the doors as early as they did. Can’t wait to hear your take on it. Most of the crowd left before the District 1 and 4 candidates took to the stage. One woman insisted that the night was only for the mayor candidates. So that happened too. Thanks for the light commentary this time. Appreciate it :)
Thank you for this valuable resource. Your tone and perspective are appreciated, not just your reporting of information. You have a local household of new and thankful readers.
Thank you so much for the support Michael!
Thoughts on the three candidates who, in 2018, voted YES for that gerrymandered, illegal, and embarrassing District Map. And, if they have the courage, their the response to why they voted for it in the first place.
I haven't yet decided who gets my vote for Mayor, but I believe your information about crime and robberies isn't correctly represented. All you have to do is talk to any employer at Home Depot and they'll tell you about all the "smash and grabs" they've had. Which is why you now see cages on most of their tools. We had that conversation last week when we saw all the weed eaters in cages. Same at Walmart. And I saw a kid at 7-11 running to his car with cases of cigarettes he'd just stolen after jumping the counter. Maybe no weapon was involved, but it's still crime. And then there's the home burglaries and catalytic converter thefts, NextDoor is full of these types of reports. So yes, crime in Martinez is increasing and it's a real issue.
I really appreciate your efforts putting all this information together for us (I'll be warding the Chamber video when it's released)! But when I signed up for your newsletter I thought you said it would be non partisan. While I appreciate satire and tongue in cheeck this one felt pretty partisan.
Appreciate your comments and criticism. If others believe the newsletter is becoming too opinionated, I’m happy to scale back. I want to make this valuable to the most number of people possible. If crime is on the rise, it should be easy enough to ascertain through police data. If it is the case, the question then becomes whether it has anything to do with decisions of city leaders or is reflective of societal trends.
Yeah, Craig, try to report not propogandize. Most of us here are looking for information, not you slant on it. That said, you could make a new newspaper which Mtz desperately needs. BTW the Onion paper (i am sure you have heard of it) is suing to protect the right to satyrize. I think that is at the Supreme Court right now.
I found a flyer from "Mike Menesini For Mayor 2022" on my front porch this afternoon. It's not as fear-mongering as the one put out by the Build Jobs PAC, but still focuses on crime. What I find interesting is that it focuses exclusively on "violent" crime. But the crime that affects most residents is the stuff like car break ins/burglaries, theft of catalytic converters, porch pirates, and people just walking out of stores with arm loads of merchandise ... crimes that "progressive" District Attorneys never seem to prosecute.
Do you mean like Contra Costa County's "progressive" district attorney who hit everyone involved in the Nordstrom's smash and grabs with felony charges and breezed to re-election in June? Do you have any evidence that she doesn't file charges against burglars and thieves?
"We made sure that everyone apprehended was hit with felony crimes including organized retail theft. That's one of the few places we have 100% filing rate. Everyone who is apprehended for that crime gets prosecuted."
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/california-progressive-prosecutor-beat-backlash-17274819.php
Ok, she prosecuted the organized, headline-grabbing, smash-and-grab at Nordstroms. But I was referring to individuals who walk/run out of stores, like our local CVS or Home Depot ... both of which I've personally witnessed ... not mobs. Becton's comments in the sfgate article don’t address any of the four crimes I cited in my comment. However, she has clearly set a policy of not prosecuting "low level non-violent crimes", the category into which, I believe, those crimes are lumped.
Speaking of campaign mailers ... I just received a nice foldout mailer from Sean Trambley ... "What happened 49 years ago?". The answer is ... that's the last time our 10-year General Plan was updated. Yes, an update is long overdue. But Sean Trambley is the Chair of the Planning Commission ... and he's running to rectify the City's lack of planning?
I got it as well and found it, well, interesting and revealing at the same time. I’ll share some thoughts about it in a future post.
On the topic of housing, please report on our homeless population. They were not included in the RHNA, but could be included in our efforts locally. A complete picture should tell about the interactions between the No-Income and the Very Low Income categories. For example, some employed people are un-housed, and also, some housed people can quickly become un-housed when their income drops.
I find it hilarious Mark Ross is claiming Measure F as the open space measure, when really it was an ad-hoc knee jerk trying to usurp the citizen Measure I. I am afraid you all will be stuck with Delaney, speaking of manifestations of the Assessor. She's not good inside, but I guess that is politicians. BTW, Rants and Raves does not like anyone intelligent. Dont worry Craig.