"My Vallejo"

A virtual gathering site for Vallejo's citizens -- and all those who crave progress.

[myvallejo-blog]

R.I.P. Officer Capoot

Officer James Capoot, a 19-year veteran of the Vallejo Police Department, died yesterday from gun wounds sustained after chasing two men involved in a bank robbery at the Bank of America on Springs Road.

The crazy thing? I learned about the robbery through Facebook: all of my friends from back home were posting, "Vallejo people, turn on the news!"

The saddest part? When people were chatting online about the robbery and the then-unidentified police officer being shot, their comments were apathetic. "That's Vallejo for ya." "Just another day in the V."

The truly heart-wrenching part? After learning about the identity of the police officer, I realized: I knew this guy.

I went to school at St. Vincent Ferrer Elementary School, and every sixth grade class is required to serve traffic safety duty before and after the school day starts. Officer James Capoot was the policeman who taught us proper traffic safety protocol, who taught us how to do an about-face. He dedicated hours out of his workday to spend time and educate elementary school students.

As always, it's saddening to see that — despite the city emerging from bankruptcy — Vallejo still has a long way to go for improvement...

And the most distressing question: are we heading in the right direction? Is there even any hope?

[myvallejo-blog]

Breaking News: Baby swings can double as idiot traps!

Our proof is an unidentified 21-year-old from Vallejo, CA, who made a $100 bet with his friends that he could fit in a child’s swing at Blue Rock Springs Park, police said.

Something ridiculous...

[myvallejo-blog]

According to an article in the Times-Herald, Business owners and Vallejo residents were invited to a two-hour meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at John F. Kennedy Public Library to discuss potential improvements for Sonoma Blvd., which cuts right through the city's center.

Some suggestions included building a town square, designating small ethnic neighborhoods along the highway, and expanding the road's bicycle lanes.

This meeting reminds me of news that I heard about five years ago regarding the city's other developmental plans, including renovations of the Vallejo waterfront, near the ferry building, and major improvements of downtown Vallejo. (For full details of the plan, click here.)

Obviously, that plan didn't reach fruition.

As someone who has been frustrated with the closure of major stores (Cost Plus World Market, Wal-Mart on Meadows Dr.) and the erection of countless discount furniture stores, I feel that these meetings and plans give Vallejo's citizens false hopes.

Yes, it's great that city leaders, business owners, and average joes are coming together to envision an improved Vallejo--but how is that improvement going to come about? Where's the money going to come from? Who's going to head these developments? Are our city leaders going to be held accountable for seeing these plans come to life?

So keep meeting up, everybody. But let's see some actual progress now.

[myvallejo-blog]

Measure C: Vallejo's Potential Medical Marijuana Tax

Measure B proposes a blanket sales tax; Measure C aims to tax Vallejo's medical marijuana dispensaries. If passed, either would bring much-needed revenue into the city. Both bear great controversy, especially in the midst of 2011 elections--and one, in particular, carries grave connotations about the city's current social situation.

According to an October 19 article in the Vallejo Times-Herald, both dispensary owners and anti-general sales tax city leaders support this measure. "Measure B is a blanket sales tax that will affect every single person in Vallejo," said city councilwoman Joanne Schively, in an interview with Times-Herald. "Measure C will only affect the people who use that particular product. And they have a choice as to whether or not they want to use it."

Nevertheless, there are issues with the measure. Commercial marijuana operations are illegal under federal law. Current mayor Osby Davis, who opposed putting the measure on the ballot and is running for re-election this year, attempted to submit an opposition argument--but failed to submit the document by the filing deadline. In his statement, he states:

Speak Loud and Clear to our City Council. Tell them no, we will not look the other way while business violate (sic) the law just because it may be profitable to do so.

Furthermore, federal law enforcement officials said that Vallejo's dispensaries would risk losing their property and rental income if Measure C passed. Since the most profitable dispensaries would be targeted, the exact amount of money this tax would contribute to the city's revenue remains in question.

Vallejo citizens have gotten into pretty heated arguments online. And this measure not only raises questions about the 2011 city council candidates and taxation, but also brings to light bigger political and social issues, including:

Should the federal government act within the local political realm?

Should medical marijuana be legalized?

And, examining this measure through a more sociocultural lens:

If Measure C were to be passed, would it affect the current perception of Vallejo in a positive or a negative way?

The issue of money aside, does Vallejo need another potential reason for other municipal bodies to comment on its "dying" or "desperate" state of affairs?

[myvallejo-blog]

Evening Commute, Vallejo Ferry Building (2011)

Photo: Sarina C.

[myvallejo-blog]

2011 City Elections: What's the REAL problem?

At the back end of the city's bankruptcy, Vallejo is gearing up for 2011 city elections. One of the biggest divisive issues between candidates--no real surprise here--deals with the city's floundering economy.

Measure B proposes a 1-percent sales tax hike, and candidates running for three seats on the Vallejo City Council and the mayor's seat have taken firm stances on either side of the issue. Tax proponents believe that this sales hike will help Vallejo climb its way out of an $11 million revenue loss, while opponents believe that such a measure overlooks salary and benefits negotiations as city labor contracts expire.

"Without sustainable contracts, we will be right back in bankruptcy," said mayoral candidate and current City Council member Joanne Schivley to the Vallejo Times-Herald.

Vallejo citizens have been just as divided as the city's political candidates. One Measure B proponent, Herbert Mitchell, writes in his letter to the editor: "Vote 'yes' on the sales tax increase. We need the money."

And it's true. With Vallejo gaining a spot in lists after lists of dying cities, I think this is the real problem affecting the city: we don't have money, and we don't have honest leaders who will make the effort to whip our city back into shape.

So what do you think? Should we pass Measure B? And who would you want to vote into office?

[myvallejo-blog]

My Top 5 Places to Eat (Post-Church) Sunday Brunch

My family and I love going out to eat after we attend Mass on Sundays.

Here are our top 5 (non-chain) places to get some Sunday brunch. I'll be reviewing them over the next few days.

Good Day Café 314 Georgia Street

Pho Lee Hoa Phat 2 Seafood City Shopping Center 3495 Sonoma Blvd #H

Original Red Onion 1321 Springs Road

Uncle Sam 785 Sereno Drive

Bud's Burger 3894 Sonoma Blvd.

But, when it comes down to it, I just really want to know: where do YOU like to go to get your grub on?

[myvallejo-blog]

Fallen Leaves, Georgia Street, Downtown Vallejo (2010)

Photo: Reggie B.

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Shack #2, Mare Island (Vallejo, 2010)

Photo: Sarina C.

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Shack, Mare Island (Vallejo, 2010)

Photo: Sarina C.

[myvallejo-blog]

A tribute to Monsignor Patrick O'Neill, who served at St. Vincent Ferrer Church (my home parish) and played a key role in the merger of St. Vincent and St. Patrick schools to my alma mater, St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School.

[myvallejo-blog]

Vallejo Times-Herald: "Craigslist deal in Vallejo ends in alleged robbery"

This is what the headline reads for one of the stories in Wednesday's paper. In all, the story reads like any other shady-turned-dangerous Craigslist deal: a young man (23 years old!) agreed to meet two alleged buyers to sell a $600 pair of Nike shoes. Upon the buyers' arrival, they entered the young man's car, pulls out a gun, and tells him to hand over everything.

The young man fortunately escaped. By the time the police arrived, the suspects, who "were only described as two black men in their 20s," had left.

The story itself is nothing new -- especially considering that the situation involves Craigslist and online "stranger danger."

But the comments from Facebook users were extremely interesting:

Geez, what the hell. I knew they were black. What the hell is going on with some of the young black males in Vallejo. I know there are plenty of good black guys out there, I'm just talking about the bad ones. People please stop trying to sell stuff on craiglist. Try amazon or ebay

Just don't sell stuff that black thugs/gangstas want. You KNOW they ain't got no cash! Or meet inside Starbucks around people (witnesses).

vallejo isnt really bd place i was raised there. its the people that are on that DOPE theyre ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL. the good the bad and the ugly is anywhere you go. i left vallejo 6yrs ago. Best thing i did.

What do these comments -- especially the confession that leaving Vallejo was the "best thing" someone did -- say about the city? Obviously, they say that Vallejo has become an entity that people are afraid of, that people are disgusted by, that people want to escape from. But why?

Is it because there's nothing to do? Is it because of all the "black thugs" and "gangstas" and all the "people on dope"? Or is it just because Vallejo truly is a city that has gone down the tubes?

[myvallejo-blog]

Fire Escape, Virginia Street, Downtown Vallejo (2010)

Photo: Reggie B.

[myvallejo-blog]

Abandoned Building, Mare Island (Vallejo, 2010)

Photo: Sarina C.

[myvallejo-blog]

Vallejo: Bankrupt No Longer?

On May 23, 2008, Vallejo filed for bankruptcy — thus becoming the largest U.S. city to do so.

On May 26, 2011 -- three years after bankruptcy was filed -- Bloomberg’s Steven Church reported that the city has won court permission to send its bankruptcy exit plan to creditors for approval. Sacramento-based Bankruptcy Judge Michael S. McManus, who was assigned to the case in 2008, gave the okay to submit the plan in a court order yesterday.

Obviously, this does not mean that all of the city’s economic problems are going to be fixed; there is still a lot of growth that could and needs to take place (more on that later). But considering the onslaught of problems that the city has faced since 2008 (increased crime rate, multiple business closures, halts in city development — just to name a few), I’d like to take this news optimistically and call this “very good.”

Or at least one small step toward some much-needed improvement.

What are your thoughts?

[myvallejo-blog]

Vallejo's 8th Homicide Victim of 2011

The shooting of a 19-year-old man on May 22, 2011 marked Vallejo's 3rd homicide in May and 8th homicide of 2011.

Narco McFarland was shot several times on Cynthia Avenue, about 2.5 miles from my childhood home in Rancho Vallejo, at around 3:45 pm. After being airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, McFarland was pronounced dead around 9 pm that evening.

After reading in the Vallejo Times Herald about this shooting, my heart broke a bit.

It's difficult to hear about these deaths, especially considering that Vallejo experienced 17 homicides in 2010 -- and may surpass that count in this year. (A shooting in June racked the 2011 homicides up to nine.)

On a Facebook comment linked to the article on McFarland's death, one Vallejo citizen exclaimed: "What is happening with Vallejo? My hometown???"

Those are the exact questions that I'm trying to explore with this blog--and with your help.