One entertaining aspect of being out of town is continuing to read The Union publisher’s weekly column – for free, on a mobile ap. This morning, he wasted no time bashing Nevada City and Council member Reinette Senum – a favorite “whipping person” over the years. He chose to make fun of Reinette’s interest in a “happiness index” (successfully used and promoted in coastal towns such as San Luis Obispo) and ignored the many accomplishments during the tenure when Reinette was a City Council member.
Like hard-right blogger Russ Steele, who also bashed the “happiness index,” The Union’s publisher doesn’t strike me as a very happy person. And considering he just erected a “paywall” at his newspaper to boost its finances, he shouldn’t be casting too many stones about somebody else’s finances.
But like Reinette’s tenure on the City Council, he will retire one day. In the meantime, here’s some facts to go with the hyperbole about Nevada City: the “City of Nevada City Annual Status Report” that is in this week’s agenda packet, no less. Perhaps one of the reporters could help The Union publisher find it and read it. “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” Some highlights from the report, which goes to Lafco and other agencies:
1. Assisted in purchase of Sugarloaf Mountain for open space and future trails during an historic dip in real estate.
2. Completed Hirschman Pond Trail totalling about 2.5 miles.
3. Continuing work on keeping courthouse on current site.
4. Hired new city manager
5. Hired new police chief
6. Warming shelter and procedures implemented at Neavaa City Vet’s Building
7. Adopted ordinance regulating conduct on public property.
8. Adopted ordinance prohibiting smoking in public places.
9. City received an unqualified opinion on 2010/2011 fiscal year; it has reduced city pension benefits with a new “two-tiered” structure, and it has paid down a loan from the county.
10. Approved use permits that led to opening of new businesses, including “Ol’ Republic Brewery.”
11. Improvements at Pioneer Park, including tennis courts, bocce ball, playground equipment.
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I think NC city council has done a good job throughout this nationwide/ international depression caused by too big too fail banks and their deregulated reckless behavior.
A few comments from my point of view…
- City councils have been working on the Sugarloaf deal for 25 years, the current council was simply the “closer”.
- Keeping the courthouse at its current site is a losing proposition. Still waiting for Bergman’s plan.
- Should have contracted with the Sheriff instead of hiring a new police chief.
- Use permits? Approved a use permit for a meditation center despite overwhelming neighborhood opposition.
- Approved another water rate increase despite citizen opposition to the exorbitant rates.
I like the trails though and I am a happy guy despite the use permits and water rates.
Steve,
I believe the courthouse plan was introduced last cc meeting. I haven’t had the time to look at it but I don’t think it is a losing issue at all. If it is an all or nothing it is a losing issue but some middle ground agreement should be the result keeping the courthouse downtown.
Ben,
I did read what was presented at the 3/14 meeting and, to me, it was just an update, status and discussion about the big picture of moving the courthouse. I did not see a detailed plan with specifics on what this would entail. Am I missing something?
I am wondering what Jeff Ackerman has done to benefit Nevada City? More to the point, what has the Union done to benefit Nevada City?
A few months ago I read about the SLO happiness index.
No brainer, it’s a college town.
They have a lot of youthful influence.
If the courthouse were to be annexed by Sierra College for classrooms and lecture halls, state of the art interactive libraries, etc., maybe specializing in California History, focusing on the Good Rush, it could attract students.
The Searles Historical Research Library materials might even find a comfortable safe home there.
Students would bring the youthful energy we need to this tired town.
Come on Boomers, it’s a bummer just sitting around watching each other fall apart isn’t it?
The presence of students is great for restaurants, shops, and the scenery.
Take a minute to think about Registration Week, Parent’s Week, Graduation Week, Pledge Week, Games and Dances. Hotels, bars and restaurants would be bustling with business during those events.
At this point in time, Sierra College has little to no reciprocity with Nevada City, one of California’s most unique and intriguing historical communities. That could change and Nevada City could have that missing ingredient that prevents it from truly being a “Little Berkeley in the Foothills”, students and the educational atmosphere they bring to a town. Maybe through the college there is a way to save the Court House building if the state decides to build a new courthouse somewhere out of town.
Just brainstorming here.
I agree it would be wonderful and transformative if NC/GV were to become a college town. That said, a 2-yr community college on its own doesn’t really bring the energy you describe, and with the state of CA’s educational budget, I think we’d be whistling at the moon to expect a CSU or UC here, though it would be a nice location.
Redding and Shasta College managed to put together a satellite program with Chico State over the last couple of years. Since about 2007 they have a small number of BA programs offered there. It involves a combination of professors driving, web-based classes, and so forth. I don’t know what this does for the “energy” in Redding, but this seems to be the sort of thing you are writing about.
Chico State had a satellite reception site in GV until that program was superseded by the web-based programs we now have.
I had some discussion with Aaron Klein on this blog a couple of years ago about how to get such a program going, and he was very receptive. I’m not sure what became of this thought though.
It is true that the CSU is currently in retrenchment mode. But that doesn’t mean that long-term planning for new satellite campuses in Nevada County cannot be pursued. Maybe Aaron and the other trustees should start tilting against that windmill again!
Tony (teaching at CSU Chico)
Thanks Jeff…Jeff Ackerman seems to get great pleasure out of tearing good people apart especially those who have been elected to office and have bucked the “good ol’ boy” system here in Nevada County. He did it with Bruce Conklin and got away with slander because Swiftnews didn’t take him to task even after hundreds of us wrote saying we would stop buying the paper.
Sharon,
De Anza was a two year school when I went there and it transformed Cupertino.
For many, Junior/Community colleges are a more affordable route to higher education in these hard economic times.
Sierra College Nevada City Campus.
Has a nice ring to it.
Isn’t it still 2-yr? I grew up in Palo Alto btw, graduated Gunn HS 1971.
Also, De Anza’s performing arts complex was a great gift to the entire community.
Sierra College is like junior high school compared to De Anza, Foothill or Cabrillo Community colleges.
OK. since we are dreaming BIG, here is mine. My wish would be that they demolish the circa 1930′s courthouse and build a new one on the same site with an circa 1860′s facade (like the Auburn courthouse; see picture) with period gas lights and fixtures all around that is big enough to bring all the justice depts. back to one spot and keep lots of people coming to the downtown during the week. Yeah, I know, like THAT is going to happen. The reality is the state is going to give just enough money to build a shoddy looking building to match the Rood Center and Jail, you know bland and blah and the old courthouse will remain vacant for years and years until someone comes up with enough money to either restore it or bring it up to code. Reality really sucks sometimes.
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/54/111822502_09e8a5f2a1_z.jpg
That’s a great idea Pete, and we should also have “zip” lines to the sandwich shops so county employees don’t waste time of that useless walking too!
I like the picture of your proposed idea, but as long as it’s not that “orange” color I’m good with it (underground parking would be a “plus too!).