I went to Safeway last night on 19th and R and as I was leaving I was approached to sign this petition.

Thanks for the link. Who wrote the text of this initiative?

It looks like it was drawn up by Thomas Hiltachk, a lawyer who practices political and election law. His name is given at the bottom of page 5.

Here is a link to his website: http://www.bmhlaw.com/index_files/Page2958.htm.

I will make some calls this week to positively confirm this.

Looking over the list of supporters on the 'Sacramentans for Accountability' website, I saw mostly business owners. Also the VP of the Sacramento Police Officers association, the president of the California AARP, a former member of the state legislature, and the co-chair of Sacramento for Obama. While there isn't anything wrong with this, it just seemed like there wasn't the voice of an average citizen anywhere on the list. I'd like to know more about who's organizing Sacramentans for Accountability.

Indeed. It's a bit of a stretch to describe an organization consisting of the mayor, business leaders, and local political figures as "grass-roots."

the city is being taken from us quickly

In Sacpress's Kevin Johnson article, he (or his writer ) extended readers an invitation o "join his team." I suggest that we do that. Then perhaps some of these questions will be answered. If we sit on the sidelines, we can only guess and speculate. AND we will never know the inside workings which may surprise us. I sent an email to "join the team." I received a thanks but not yet heard back. If we join, and he invites us to the table, then we may have a voice--a voice that is heard.

If we don't join, what chance do we have? If many of us join and are never called, that sends a message that we can use to go from there. I'm willing to give it a chance. I would like to see many others do the same. To use an old cliche but proven strategy, "there is strength in numbers."

The vast majority of the "Top Advisors" from what someone told me who checked out their home addresses apparently don't live in the city. That is worrisome. Can anyone out there who reads this disprove what I was told? If that is true, then the city, as Shawn, says is being taken from us.

While I'm all for having more accountable (i.e. elected) officials running our government, instead of shadowy city managers, it worries me to consolidate it too much. Why not just grant more powers to the entire council, including budget, appointments, etc.

Shawn:

I've got an idea.

Let's take it back.

Sarah:
Have you read the initiative? Most of the "checks" on mayoral decisions would require a two-thirds vote of the council, rather than a majority vote. So there are checks, but it hardly seems balanced. You are correct in that the council does currently have the power to appoint and dismiss officials, including the city manager, and control over the budget.

What do you mean "mandatory approval of mayoral candidates"? You don't have to have the Council's OK to run for Mayor--you should ask Shawn about that!