It never rains in California, but…

[Locutus]

The History of Stockton: Chapter Nine

Wells Fargo is taking steps toward repossessing Stockton's new City Hall, an eight-story high rise at 400 E. Main Street. City government never moved into the ($40.7m) building, which it bought in 2007…​

Fortunately, there are still some sources of revenue for the politicians in Foreclosureville, USA. The city takes in over $50,000 in processing and various other fees on each new home built, for example, and has been fining homeowners, "many of them underwater and unemployed", for "not painting their yellowing lawns green." And on the quality of life side of the equation, there's all that local stimulus-spending coming from the 94 retired city union employees who make pensions of over $100,000 a year, and the free healthcare for life after retirement for people who worked for the city for more than one month. Plus, you've got your Health and Safety Fair, with its Teddy Bear clinic and sensory maze, and a high-end downtown arena, and a half-million dollar Asparagus Festival, and…

You see, high-spending local officials in America's most miserable city aren't the bad guys, the real villains are the ones who loaned them the money:

City officials called Wells Fargo a vulture. "Having Wells Fargo file this claim on that building is just another stab in the heart of a city that is already down on the ground," Mayor Ann Johnston said. "They are kicking us again and again."​

Just for the feeling it gives them, apparently:

"It's unfortunate that they felt they had to do this. I'm not sure what good they hope to get from that."

from: small dead animals


​

 

[Highball]

I live next to Stockton. It is run by Oakies and Hillbillys. What do you expect? They couldn't conduct any sensible financial management. Now the same bank wants the new building the city bought with the intention of making a new City hall but the city couldn't rent out the temporary office space. Nor property management sense either. WFB will be a major landholder in downtown Stockton.

 

[The Old Medic]

Stockton is a classic case of a 3rd rate town, with illusions of becoming a 1st rate one. For at least the past 20 years, they have run up debts, and trying to "improve" the city in ways that drive business out of town.

But, don't blame Stockton too much. The entire State of California has been on a spending spree for the past 40 plus years. It has been spending money on government employees, sweetening benefits, raising pay to well above what industry pays, and neglecting the real needs of the state.

The Democrats have totally controlled the State for most of those years, and have controlled the legislature for all of them. The state deficit has now reached 16 BILLION dollars, and they want to raise taxes again. The governor says massive cutbacks will occur in education and public safety if the voters don't approve his new taxes (which will be eaten up by the public employee unions).

As a person who lived in California for most of the past 55 years, I say let the State declare bankruptcy. Let the Bankruptcy Court void all of the sweetheart contracts with the state employee unions, force the State to drop all the frills, and get back to what it SHOULD be providing.

 

[CDNBear]

Stockton is a classic case of a 3rd rate town, with illusions of becoming a 1st rate one. For at least the past 20 years, they have run up debts, and trying to "improve" the city in ways that drive business out of town.

Sounds very NDP'ish.

 

[Highball]

The business exodus from California is now getting some attention. But the politicians still haven't figured it out. They still have the "Need to get more money" so they can give it away. But thn too a bout half of the state legislature are hicks or hillbillys too. The rest are Professional Highwaymen.

 

[Highball]

Moonbeam just announced the state of California is now short $16 billion in its current budget. I suggest he consider selling Gavin Newsome to Barney Frank as a sex slave and send the Assembly Leader to the Middle East to learn what happens to young men when they approach their manhood. Perez could buy a doughnut shaped seat cushion to ease the pain when he returns.

 

[Highball]

The Mayor of Stockton gave a city paid for luncheon and a formal "State of the City" address. The positive side was that Ells Fargo now owns 25% of this city and more is yet to come. Then some wise ass spoke and said "This place is run by Hot Rods, Queers and Steers. What is the horn or wheel count in this audience. I don't see any.