VISIONS FOR A CITY

     While gazing at the hulking cranes of Mare Island on Sunday morning, a flock of wild geese flew overhead in perfect V formation.  It was a thrilling sight that made me wonder if they’re heading south for the winter or had they heard the news about the casinos.  

     I heard about casinos, and other projects, proposed to the mayor, his side-kicks, and the general public in a presentation at city hall last week. There were six elite teams of master developers, with plans for the commercial exploitation of a large area on the north side of Mare Island that made Vallejo sound like a gold mine they were ready to dig – and plunder. 

     It was also interesting to hear the representative of the impoverished Koi Nation, who’d gotten the guilt of the US government to grant all kinds of favors they say they’ll bring to Vallejo in return for land.  They’d give us wampum, we’d turn the territory over to them and get a casino, and, if one can believe this, seven million visitors per year.

     Did you hear the Mayor of Detroit talk about how difficult it is to return from bankruptcy?  (It was aired on NPR, the radio station that plays all day long in my kitchen.)  He cited Vallejo as an example of a small city in the process of recovery that would take longer and was even more difficult to achieve than Detroit. He made us sound like a lost cause.
  

     Sometimes, after reading reports about our school board and some of our politicians, and listening to the outspoken cynics, it sounds like everything here is wrong.  But, observing those rich, smart developers ready and eager to put their money and resources on the table, my heart swelled with pride.  I imagined Vallejo coming up aces; our high-school students winning prizes, a crime-free town, my property value going way up.  They like us, I thought; they really like us. 

     But, will our honorable city officials recognize what’s best for Vallejo and play our cards right?

The developers, especially the casino people, were drooling, rubbing their hands together with glee, over the profits they  foresee flowing in from a piece of perfectly situated coastal land in the hub of the Bay area, between San Francisco and Napa. 

     There was talk of world class gaming, entertainment centers, high class hotels, restaurants, shops, and all the business they’d bring to our fair city.   If six teams of brilliant master planners, architects, engineers, techies, and money-men want to own it, and are willing to invest a hundred million, it must be true.

     Then, how come we don’t develop Vallejo ourselves?  What do we need them for?  Why not get those brains and bankbooks working for us?  Isn’t that what Detroit is doing?  Shouldn’t we be the ones calling the shots?

 
     I found this announcement in the news last week, “The City of Vallejo is pleased to report that the Standard and Poor's Credit Rating Service has raised its underlying rating on Vallejo, California Series 1999 certificates of participation (COPs) to 'BB-' from 'CCC+' with a 'Stable' outlook.” 

While dreaming of my prosperous city, with great schools, rising real-estate values, and shops like Whole Foods and Cartier, I couldn’t help imagining of those seven million visitors, and all the traffic that comes with them.  We’ll need a tunnel from the freeway and other entrances into town, stopping at the ferry and continuing on to Mare Island, and a bridge on the south side of the city, maybe two, and peripheral roads to keep traffic out of downtown.  Let’s bring in trolleys.

  

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