Someone actually warned me that this was coming in the mail, and it’s probably the only thing that saved me from dropping dead, because I’ve seen a lot of things in my time (and my time has not been that long), and yet, I really don’t have good words to describe this. Recall back to last year when a bunch of developers supporting Measure X gathered around and sung “We Shall Overcome.” That’s the kind of moment that this campaign brochure evokes when you see it.
When I was growing up, PG&E built a nuclear powerplant in my backyard on an earthquake fault. Now PG&E claims to be green and suggests that it is not easy being green (cue up Kermit). And evokes the image of the “No on Measure X” as an argument to support PG&E. This is almost like shooting fish in a barrel. If I’m Dick Livingston, I’m suing.
YES ON K TV ADs and Rich Rifkin
I have to laugh everytime I see the “Yes on K” TV ADs and there is Ted Puntillo trying to sell us on Target. And at some point he talks about how he would like to do all his shopping in Davis and not have to go to Woodland and Sacramento. Do people see through this stuff? First of all, has Ted Puntillo ever gone to Target in his life? Second, even if he has, does all his shopping out of town entail going to Target? It’s amazing suddenly if we have a Target in Davis we go from not being able to buy socks and underwear, to never having to shop out of town again. Wow! Target is not just a superstore, it’s a miracle worker. And good grief–the very same people who are selling us on Target are the very same people who would never ever shop at Target.
And then you have Rich Rifkin. I will never forgive or forget Rich Rifkin who ripped the HRC for having too many periods in their report on racial profiling. It was embarrassing that the Davis Enterprise gave space to that drivel.
He may have topped that on Wednesday.
“I wouldn’t suggest that all members of FETID are stinky, malodorous and in need of a bath. But if you get close enough, you’ll find that most FETID don’t buy deodorant or soap or undergarments. They never shop at Target. They despise “big box.” They are enraged by the idea that the rest of the people in our fair city might actually want a store in town that sells ordinary consumer goods at a decent price, because FETID apparently aren’t keen to be clean.”
Darn it, he’s found me out. He must have read my last blog entry and figured I was on a mission to deprive people of socks and underwear. That I even need to dignify this crap with a response is flat out insulting to me and you. So I’ll just leave it up for posterity.
I guess a couple of “substantive” arguments need rebuttal.
“The planners exclaim, “It’s four times larger than the permitted store size in the General Plan.” That’s true, too. It is a big store. But it’s a ruse to lean on the General Plan to argue against Target. The General Plan was designed by the people of Davis to serve the needs of the people of Davis. The people, then, have every right to change their General Plan, if it is not serving their needs. That is why we are voting on this question.”
Actually the General Plan was designed to protect us from large developments that might harm the character of the city. It was designed specifically to prevent this kind of growth. Now he’s correct that people have the right to change the General Plan, but the opponents have the right to remind people that we have the General Plan for a reason.
Let me repeat what Paul Navazio, the finance director for the city of Davis, told me a few months ago: Target will generate $659,000 in new net revenues for our city government. That’s a lot of cash. That money’s now going to Woodland, Vacaville, West Sacramento and other surrounding cities.
I love this one–oh, he told you that Target will generate $659,000–that must make it so. In a previous blog entry, we cast doubt on that figure. Regardless, that figure is based on a comparison to an empty field rather than a comparison to an alternative development project there that doesn’t involve a big-box corporation.
Unlike the geniuses on our Planning Commission, I think most people in Davis would like our city government to keep our sales tax monies. If we vote against Target, we know for certain that the city of Davis will lose $659,000 a year.
Now he insults the Planning Commission. This is flat-out insulting to the Planning Commission and the residents of Davis. They certainly spent a lot more time and energy researching this than he has. If he wants to disagree with them, fine. But be a little respectful of people who volunteer their time and energy.
That’s perhaps the biggest beef I have with Rifkin–his irreverence. This type of column backfires because people in Davis are not stupid. They read this stuff as mean-spirited and over-the-top. It’s not worth the paper it’s written on.
Let’s have an honest debate on Target and the future of the city. This is just a bunch of insults wrapped in psuedo-satire. The people of Davis deserve better than that.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
Ted Puntillo as the poster child for Target should be just great for the No on K side. While sitting on the council dais, he made no effort to hide his public contempt for the values that have made Davis a special place to live. This staunch military man “abandoned his post” when he chose, in a fit of pique, to not run again for a council seat. Then to add insult to injury, he was agressive in his support of the Target proposal that he initiated right up to his last council meeting… read, I’m out of here folks, and I no longer have to make any pretence of representing you.. so long suckers!
Ted Puntillo as the poster child for Target should be just great for the No on K side. While sitting on the council dais, he made no effort to hide his public contempt for the values that have made Davis a special place to live. This staunch military man “abandoned his post” when he chose, in a fit of pique, to not run again for a council seat. Then to add insult to injury, he was agressive in his support of the Target proposal that he initiated right up to his last council meeting… read, I’m out of here folks, and I no longer have to make any pretence of representing you.. so long suckers!
Ted Puntillo as the poster child for Target should be just great for the No on K side. While sitting on the council dais, he made no effort to hide his public contempt for the values that have made Davis a special place to live. This staunch military man “abandoned his post” when he chose, in a fit of pique, to not run again for a council seat. Then to add insult to injury, he was agressive in his support of the Target proposal that he initiated right up to his last council meeting… read, I’m out of here folks, and I no longer have to make any pretence of representing you.. so long suckers!
Ted Puntillo as the poster child for Target should be just great for the No on K side. While sitting on the council dais, he made no effort to hide his public contempt for the values that have made Davis a special place to live. This staunch military man “abandoned his post” when he chose, in a fit of pique, to not run again for a council seat. Then to add insult to injury, he was agressive in his support of the Target proposal that he initiated right up to his last council meeting… read, I’m out of here folks, and I no longer have to make any pretence of representing you.. so long suckers!
Desperation time for the PG&E campaign in Davis. I guess they’re left with hoping that some Davis voters will vote No on H and I because it is a capital letter like X. It’s that time in the campaign, 3 weeks before election day, when the campaign strategists go for broke… “What have we got to lose?”, they say to each other, “We’re goin’ down anyway”.
Desperation time for the PG&E campaign in Davis. I guess they’re left with hoping that some Davis voters will vote No on H and I because it is a capital letter like X. It’s that time in the campaign, 3 weeks before election day, when the campaign strategists go for broke… “What have we got to lose?”, they say to each other, “We’re goin’ down anyway”.
Desperation time for the PG&E campaign in Davis. I guess they’re left with hoping that some Davis voters will vote No on H and I because it is a capital letter like X. It’s that time in the campaign, 3 weeks before election day, when the campaign strategists go for broke… “What have we got to lose?”, they say to each other, “We’re goin’ down anyway”.
Desperation time for the PG&E campaign in Davis. I guess they’re left with hoping that some Davis voters will vote No on H and I because it is a capital letter like X. It’s that time in the campaign, 3 weeks before election day, when the campaign strategists go for broke… “What have we got to lose?”, they say to each other, “We’re goin’ down anyway”.
Well I tell you, I’m less than certain how this ends up, the airwaves have been absolutely bombarded and the issues clouded.
I started out favoring SMUD, but it wasn’t really my issue. The level of duplicity here by PG&E may indeed backfire by making people who were supporting SMUD but on the sidelines, take a larger interest in this measure.
More on this tomorrow.
Well I tell you, I’m less than certain how this ends up, the airwaves have been absolutely bombarded and the issues clouded.
I started out favoring SMUD, but it wasn’t really my issue. The level of duplicity here by PG&E may indeed backfire by making people who were supporting SMUD but on the sidelines, take a larger interest in this measure.
More on this tomorrow.
Well I tell you, I’m less than certain how this ends up, the airwaves have been absolutely bombarded and the issues clouded.
I started out favoring SMUD, but it wasn’t really my issue. The level of duplicity here by PG&E may indeed backfire by making people who were supporting SMUD but on the sidelines, take a larger interest in this measure.
More on this tomorrow.
Well I tell you, I’m less than certain how this ends up, the airwaves have been absolutely bombarded and the issues clouded.
I started out favoring SMUD, but it wasn’t really my issue. The level of duplicity here by PG&E may indeed backfire by making people who were supporting SMUD but on the sidelines, take a larger interest in this measure.
More on this tomorrow.
The PG&E campaign is out of the corporate cookbook and misses the essential Davis ethos, much like the Measure X campaign which was lost by Yes on X campaign strategies as much as won by the No on X campaign. The Yes on K campaign is much more sophisticated and attuned to the Davis voters’ “world view”… no more 5 color print glossies in the mail.. their material looks like it could have been run off in a garage off an old mimeograph machine…power to the people.
The PG&E campaign is out of the corporate cookbook and misses the essential Davis ethos, much like the Measure X campaign which was lost by Yes on X campaign strategies as much as won by the No on X campaign. The Yes on K campaign is much more sophisticated and attuned to the Davis voters’ “world view”… no more 5 color print glossies in the mail.. their material looks like it could have been run off in a garage off an old mimeograph machine…power to the people.
The PG&E campaign is out of the corporate cookbook and misses the essential Davis ethos, much like the Measure X campaign which was lost by Yes on X campaign strategies as much as won by the No on X campaign. The Yes on K campaign is much more sophisticated and attuned to the Davis voters’ “world view”… no more 5 color print glossies in the mail.. their material looks like it could have been run off in a garage off an old mimeograph machine…power to the people.
The PG&E campaign is out of the corporate cookbook and misses the essential Davis ethos, much like the Measure X campaign which was lost by Yes on X campaign strategies as much as won by the No on X campaign. The Yes on K campaign is much more sophisticated and attuned to the Davis voters’ “world view”… no more 5 color print glossies in the mail.. their material looks like it could have been run off in a garage off an old mimeograph machine…power to the people.
Unlike Measure X, they don’t have to win it in Davis, they just have to confuse enough people in Davis using the visage of No on X and they can win it in Woodland and West Sacramento.
The Target supporters have learned some lessons, but not all. I think the threat of Boycott rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Using Teddy Puntillo as the spokesperson on Ad blitzes was not a brilliant move. We’ll see where this ends up.
Unlike Measure X, they don’t have to win it in Davis, they just have to confuse enough people in Davis using the visage of No on X and they can win it in Woodland and West Sacramento.
The Target supporters have learned some lessons, but not all. I think the threat of Boycott rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Using Teddy Puntillo as the spokesperson on Ad blitzes was not a brilliant move. We’ll see where this ends up.
Unlike Measure X, they don’t have to win it in Davis, they just have to confuse enough people in Davis using the visage of No on X and they can win it in Woodland and West Sacramento.
The Target supporters have learned some lessons, but not all. I think the threat of Boycott rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Using Teddy Puntillo as the spokesperson on Ad blitzes was not a brilliant move. We’ll see where this ends up.
Unlike Measure X, they don’t have to win it in Davis, they just have to confuse enough people in Davis using the visage of No on X and they can win it in Woodland and West Sacramento.
The Target supporters have learned some lessons, but not all. I think the threat of Boycott rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Using Teddy Puntillo as the spokesperson on Ad blitzes was not a brilliant move. We’ll see where this ends up.
The mean-spiritedness and negative, cynical “world view” exhibited by the local Yes of Measure K activists is the true face of the grassroots Yes on K campaign. In face- to- face “debates” with vocal Yes supporters, I have been struck by how often their remarks are offered through snarling, clenched teeth.
The mean-spiritedness and negative, cynical “world view” exhibited by the local Yes of Measure K activists is the true face of the grassroots Yes on K campaign. In face- to- face “debates” with vocal Yes supporters, I have been struck by how often their remarks are offered through snarling, clenched teeth.
The mean-spiritedness and negative, cynical “world view” exhibited by the local Yes of Measure K activists is the true face of the grassroots Yes on K campaign. In face- to- face “debates” with vocal Yes supporters, I have been struck by how often their remarks are offered through snarling, clenched teeth.
The mean-spiritedness and negative, cynical “world view” exhibited by the local Yes of Measure K activists is the true face of the grassroots Yes on K campaign. In face- to- face “debates” with vocal Yes supporters, I have been struck by how often their remarks are offered through snarling, clenched teeth.
Doug, you note this in your blog: “And then you have Rich Rifkin. I will never forgive or forget Rich Rifkin who ripped the HRC for having too many periods in their report on racial profiling.”
Too many periods? What does that mean? I never mentioned periods, other punctuation marks or even any diacritical marks in regard to the sloppy HRC report on police racism.
You ought to re-read that column. I have a copy of it that I can email to you, if you like.
You go on: “Darn it, he’s found me out. He must have read my last blog entry and figured I was on a mission to deprive people of socks and underwear.”
I’m happy to have found your blog. But in fact, before this evening, when I was sent an email alerting me to your blog, I had never heard of it or of you. It looks to be very well done. I’m sure a lot of people enjoy reading it.
You continue: “That I even need to dignify this crap with a response is flat out insulting to me and you. So I’ll just leave it up for posterity.”
While my opinions on Target are serious and sincere, I think you got your briefs up your backside a little too far in reacting to my FETID joke. You have to admit, it’s a clever acronym. And once I thought of it, I decided to make light of its literal meaning. Apparently, you missed the joke entirely.
Doug, you note this in your blog: “And then you have Rich Rifkin. I will never forgive or forget Rich Rifkin who ripped the HRC for having too many periods in their report on racial profiling.”
Too many periods? What does that mean? I never mentioned periods, other punctuation marks or even any diacritical marks in regard to the sloppy HRC report on police racism.
You ought to re-read that column. I have a copy of it that I can email to you, if you like.
You go on: “Darn it, he’s found me out. He must have read my last blog entry and figured I was on a mission to deprive people of socks and underwear.”
I’m happy to have found your blog. But in fact, before this evening, when I was sent an email alerting me to your blog, I had never heard of it or of you. It looks to be very well done. I’m sure a lot of people enjoy reading it.
You continue: “That I even need to dignify this crap with a response is flat out insulting to me and you. So I’ll just leave it up for posterity.”
While my opinions on Target are serious and sincere, I think you got your briefs up your backside a little too far in reacting to my FETID joke. You have to admit, it’s a clever acronym. And once I thought of it, I decided to make light of its literal meaning. Apparently, you missed the joke entirely.
Doug, you note this in your blog: “And then you have Rich Rifkin. I will never forgive or forget Rich Rifkin who ripped the HRC for having too many periods in their report on racial profiling.”
Too many periods? What does that mean? I never mentioned periods, other punctuation marks or even any diacritical marks in regard to the sloppy HRC report on police racism.
You ought to re-read that column. I have a copy of it that I can email to you, if you like.
You go on: “Darn it, he’s found me out. He must have read my last blog entry and figured I was on a mission to deprive people of socks and underwear.”
I’m happy to have found your blog. But in fact, before this evening, when I was sent an email alerting me to your blog, I had never heard of it or of you. It looks to be very well done. I’m sure a lot of people enjoy reading it.
You continue: “That I even need to dignify this crap with a response is flat out insulting to me and you. So I’ll just leave it up for posterity.”
While my opinions on Target are serious and sincere, I think you got your briefs up your backside a little too far in reacting to my FETID joke. You have to admit, it’s a clever acronym. And once I thought of it, I decided to make light of its literal meaning. Apparently, you missed the joke entirely.
Doug, you note this in your blog: “And then you have Rich Rifkin. I will never forgive or forget Rich Rifkin who ripped the HRC for having too many periods in their report on racial profiling.”
Too many periods? What does that mean? I never mentioned periods, other punctuation marks or even any diacritical marks in regard to the sloppy HRC report on police racism.
You ought to re-read that column. I have a copy of it that I can email to you, if you like.
You go on: “Darn it, he’s found me out. He must have read my last blog entry and figured I was on a mission to deprive people of socks and underwear.”
I’m happy to have found your blog. But in fact, before this evening, when I was sent an email alerting me to your blog, I had never heard of it or of you. It looks to be very well done. I’m sure a lot of people enjoy reading it.
You continue: “That I even need to dignify this crap with a response is flat out insulting to me and you. So I’ll just leave it up for posterity.”
While my opinions on Target are serious and sincere, I think you got your briefs up your backside a little too far in reacting to my FETID joke. You have to admit, it’s a clever acronym. And once I thought of it, I decided to make light of its literal meaning. Apparently, you missed the joke entirely.
I thank Mr. Rifkin for his comments. He is indeed correct that he never commented on the number of period in the HRC report, that was my clever way of saying he focused frequently on unimportant details. For instance he spent two paragraphs discovering that they called Fifth Street, Fifth Avenue and pointing out that there are no Avenues in Davis (which is actually not true). I too was not being literal in that.
I would rate his FETID acronym about where I rate the SELFISH acronym of Dunning. There is a certain level of viciousness in the No on K campaign, and I’m not sure humor of this sort goes over with a lot of people.
I talked to a lot of people who thought Mr. Rifkin’s column was insulting. But I guess humor is largely in the eye of the beholder.
I do give Mr. Rifkin tremendous credit for coming on here and logging in using his real name to respond to my comments and as I told him privately, I hope he drops in from time to time. I really believe that we need a dialogue in this town on important issues like this.
I thank Mr. Rifkin for his comments. He is indeed correct that he never commented on the number of period in the HRC report, that was my clever way of saying he focused frequently on unimportant details. For instance he spent two paragraphs discovering that they called Fifth Street, Fifth Avenue and pointing out that there are no Avenues in Davis (which is actually not true). I too was not being literal in that.
I would rate his FETID acronym about where I rate the SELFISH acronym of Dunning. There is a certain level of viciousness in the No on K campaign, and I’m not sure humor of this sort goes over with a lot of people.
I talked to a lot of people who thought Mr. Rifkin’s column was insulting. But I guess humor is largely in the eye of the beholder.
I do give Mr. Rifkin tremendous credit for coming on here and logging in using his real name to respond to my comments and as I told him privately, I hope he drops in from time to time. I really believe that we need a dialogue in this town on important issues like this.
I thank Mr. Rifkin for his comments. He is indeed correct that he never commented on the number of period in the HRC report, that was my clever way of saying he focused frequently on unimportant details. For instance he spent two paragraphs discovering that they called Fifth Street, Fifth Avenue and pointing out that there are no Avenues in Davis (which is actually not true). I too was not being literal in that.
I would rate his FETID acronym about where I rate the SELFISH acronym of Dunning. There is a certain level of viciousness in the No on K campaign, and I’m not sure humor of this sort goes over with a lot of people.
I talked to a lot of people who thought Mr. Rifkin’s column was insulting. But I guess humor is largely in the eye of the beholder.
I do give Mr. Rifkin tremendous credit for coming on here and logging in using his real name to respond to my comments and as I told him privately, I hope he drops in from time to time. I really believe that we need a dialogue in this town on important issues like this.
I thank Mr. Rifkin for his comments. He is indeed correct that he never commented on the number of period in the HRC report, that was my clever way of saying he focused frequently on unimportant details. For instance he spent two paragraphs discovering that they called Fifth Street, Fifth Avenue and pointing out that there are no Avenues in Davis (which is actually not true). I too was not being literal in that.
I would rate his FETID acronym about where I rate the SELFISH acronym of Dunning. There is a certain level of viciousness in the No on K campaign, and I’m not sure humor of this sort goes over with a lot of people.
I talked to a lot of people who thought Mr. Rifkin’s column was insulting. But I guess humor is largely in the eye of the beholder.
I do give Mr. Rifkin tremendous credit for coming on here and logging in using his real name to respond to my comments and as I told him privately, I hope he drops in from time to time. I really believe that we need a dialogue in this town on important issues like this.
Couldn’t let this stand, even if everyone recognized the typo.. You , of course, meant to say, ……certain level of visciousness in the YES on K campaign………….
Couldn’t let this stand, even if everyone recognized the typo.. You , of course, meant to say, ……certain level of visciousness in the YES on K campaign………….
Couldn’t let this stand, even if everyone recognized the typo.. You , of course, meant to say, ……certain level of visciousness in the YES on K campaign………….
Couldn’t let this stand, even if everyone recognized the typo.. You , of course, meant to say, ……certain level of visciousness in the YES on K campaign………….
Ooh, good catch thanks. I can’t figure out how to edit my own post. Has to be a way.
Ooh, good catch thanks. I can’t figure out how to edit my own post. Has to be a way.
Ooh, good catch thanks. I can’t figure out how to edit my own post. Has to be a way.
Ooh, good catch thanks. I can’t figure out how to edit my own post. Has to be a way.