About Us
What's this shit all about anyways?
It is about correction. It's about leaving your campground, so to speak, a little better than when you found it. It is about accountability... to taxpayers.
I have lived in Ukiah since 2001. In the time I have lived here, I have had several negative encounters with local government. I haven't had these experiences elsewhere in all my years, and I have lived all over the US, and have travelled the world. I am a retired professional high-tech Tech Support Manager, and a disabled and honorably discharged veteran. In addition to my personal experiences, I have witnessed many more bad encounters between taxpayers and police.
After having had the city machine wielded against me wrongfully over a $6 dispute about the trash service, and after experiencing now-accused UPD Sgt. Kevin Murray, and now experiencing bad policing at Todd Grove Park... it has become evident that the issues within the local government will continue to adversely affect the community until they are abated. It is also clear that city employees are incapable of moderating their behaviors... and seek to insulate each other from the responsibility of their own behaviors. It is easier to do that, than to change institutionalized abusive practices.
These abusive practices need to be abated from the outside... by informing citizens of the failures of the responsible individuals in city government... mocking it all, and perhaps swaying votes for City Council, who can eventually fire those in charge that are failing to do their duty.
I am a master-abater. So this is me, playing the long game, documenting bad local government and policing, and mocking it. When logic fails... one must rely on public shaming and mockery, and other tactics. I seek others in my quest to clean up Ukiah government from the outside.
Want to help?
Okay... so you want an example...
What do I mean by "institutionalized abuses"?
I will pick one random example of this, out of many. A minor example..
In around 2008, I changed residences. All was fine until the first summer, when I received a MASSIVE electricity bill from the city. It was in the peak summer months, so the bills were already high. I paid the bill, to stay in compliance. It was a massive bill that HURT to pay. The next month, my bill decreased to what would be a normal rate.
I had to call the city about the bill; the city did not identify the error. The city billing clerk told me she would send out a meter reader. After the reading, I again called back. The billing clerk told me that the billing had been incorrect, and that the 250% increase in the peak summer month bill, which I paid in good faith, would be credited to my account.
I objected to this INTEREST FREE LOAN to the city. I should have been provided a REFUND.
No. No refund. The city clerk instead told me, "You should be grateful that you are getting a credit". I should be grateful... that the city is getting an interest free loan using my money, but they are willing to incrementally credit my account over the next few months? REALLY? When I objected to this, the billing clerk disconnected the call.
These are minor examples of abusive practices... but it did get worse. AFTER THE THIRD SUCH OCCURRANCE OF THIS EXACT SAME BILLING ISSUE... the city eventually wrongfully employed the threat of force, calling in the UPD Police Riot Squad...over their own billing issues. I will get to that elsewhere on this site.
These issues, and the city's inherent gut reaction to defend their employees at all costs... need to be abated by PROPER MANAGEMENT. Proper management won't occur until the city, like an addict, admits to its problem. Yes, this was a minor issue, relatively... until the city employees wrongfully wielded police force against a person that was no threat. That made it a major issue. There are more egregious violations, which I will discuss on this site.
So, Sage Sangiacomo... like a puppy that crapped on the rug, get ready to have your face rubbed in the mess of your own make.
