Prepared to speak on Item 14 at the Sacramento City Council on strengthening Sanctuary City provisions in Sacramento.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Speaking To The Sacramento City Council
Prepared to speak on Item 14 at the Sacramento City Council on strengthening Sanctuary City provisions in Sacramento.
Hypocrisy of the Right Regarding Arms
@westmoreland_pops The silence of 2A advocates is deafening! #minnesota #law #secondamendment #freedom #thebackforty ♬ original sound - Will Westmoreland
These Are Our Sacramento Protesters!
Favorable coverage, with video:
Outside the John Moss Federal Building, demonstrators participated in one of many anti-ICE protests occurring across the country. The scene was filled with the sounds of flags waving, cars honking, and people chanting.
Allen O'Brien, an anti-ICE protester, said, "If I had one giant ask of the whole country, my biggest one personally...if we can't abolish ICE yet, we need to abolish for-profit detention centers."
When asked what they would say to the Trump administration, a protester named Faygo responded, "Abolish ICE."
Jayden Crandall, another anti-ICE protester, said, "I want to come out here to stand for my community, because everyone around me is so important to me and I think that even people with the opposing views, for me, I still want to fight for it because I love everyone around me, and I want everyone to be free to live in a life that they want to pursue."
..."ICE has killed a US citizen and I feel so heartbroken that we've been so divided by fake lines that divide this land that we've come to kill each other," Crandall said.
When asked if there was anything positive about ICE, Amanda M. said, "No. I believe that ICE has not functioned correctly since its inception."
Thomas O'Brien, another protester, said, "No child should be afraid to go to school. No family should be afraid to go to a house of worship. No person should be afraid to go to the hospital. So until everybody can go about their lives, unafraid, that's what we're going to be out here for."
A Visitor's Tale
It was a quiet Monday evening at Camp for Justice, but at one point a visitor arrived to tell us a compelling tale. The visitor had been at this very location on November 4, 2025, when several ICE agents came out of the pedestrian gate, out to where protesters had gathered. The agents then began addressing the protesters, like "We understand that you have the right to protest outside this facility, etc." Suddenly the agents tackled several protesters and dragged them into the John Moss Federal Building.
The agents proceeded to ask the visitor what he characterized as a series of "the dumbest questions ever," including who was paying him to protest. He could hear them talking on the phone to a superior about their video of the arrest, which they characterized as unclear and blurry and perhaps unsuitable as evidence. The visitor began loudly complaining about his ankle, slightly-injured when the ICE agents tackled him, which he played up under the circumstances. He threatened to sue ICE. He was taken to a hospital for medical assistance and presented with a citation, which he signed with "Fuck ICE." Several hours after his arrest he was released.
The interesting thing to me was the visitor was able to show us on his phone a compelling video of the arrest, taken by someone else. The video once resided on TikTok (and apparently Instagram as well) but was removed from social media. Apparently the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has enough pull with the social media platforms to censor anything that it deems provocative. Something to know! We can't see everything on social media that we need to see.
What works best when in taken into ICE custody? Be the loudest squeakiest wheel ever! Stoic, silent compliance is a BAD idea! Welcome to 1984!
Sunday, January 25, 2026
The Sacramento Bee Interviews Scott
The Sacramento Bee interviews Scott:
A man who was assaulted two weeks ago while protesting outside the federal building where Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates in Sacramento continued to demonstrate Sunday, the day after the killing of a second Minneapolis protester.
“We’re losing all of our constitutional rights,” Scott Stauffer said about the killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti.
Getting To Know One Another
Here's my sign from early November: "Who Murders Fishermen? Bad Guys, That's Who!"
Becoming a member of the protesting class has meant meeting a variety of new people. It also has meant that these new people get to meet me too. Last summer, the average age of protesters was fairly old - forties through sixties - and relatively easy to meet. These days, however, the average age is much younger - in the twenties. So, the affability gap between me and the average protester has grown over time, simply because of age and different lived experiences.
The initial impression I make on people seems to be that of a dotty old guy. Hoka wicasa described the process. Paraphrasing him: "I asked someone 'Who is that old guy with the signs?' The other person replied, "Oh, he's a protester from way back.'" Hoka wicasa then had a question for me. "I saw that sign you had, and I didn't understand it. I want to ask you: Do you have a problem with fish?" I laughed, and replied, "Yes! Have you ever seen fish? Those big eyes, those open mouths! OMG!"
The problem, of course, is that it's hard to keep up with forced march of the fascist Trump Administration. My sign was on the cutting edge of politics early in November, 2025, when fishing boats were being attacked off the coast of Venezuela and Columbia. Now, late in January, 2026, two-and-a-half months later, my sign is just a confusing, cringey relic from the remote past. So it goes.
Last night, milling in the dark on 7th Street, Scott had to corral dotty old me a couple of times. because I was wandering too far from the group. These predatory ICE beasts deliberately target the weakest members of the protester herd, and that could be me under the right circumstances. When the four ICE thugs opened the pedestrian gate, protesters retreated. Not me: I stood my ground and tried to engage them in conversation, as I had earlier conversed with the more-amiable Sac PD cops. Maybe a bad idea, but you've got to face your fears.
Most of the protesters on 7th Street wore black clothes and had black face coverings. I could appreciate their reasons for doing so, but I had decided last summer to be as public as possible and not use face coverings unless absolutely necessary. A young man approached me in the dark and said this was the time and place when face coverings were a good idea. He might have been right! He had a spare face mask, which he gave me. We talked, and he described his Instagram page and prepper mentality. He was prepared to disappear if the heat got too hot, and vanish overseas. Under those circumstances I might be a sitting duck. That's what happens to dotty old people.
A local fascist with the handle "Matthew916" wandered on the fringe of the group doing his TikTok Live for his Placer County friends as we shouted out insults. He retreated to where the Sac PD cops were. Little coward.
ICEy nights in downtown Sacramento in January.
Signs From The Sacramento Resistance
John Moss Federal Building in downtown Sacramento, where ICE has their field headquarters and where there is a makeshift jail.
Across the street from the John Moss Federal Building is a monument dedicated to Greek immigrants to the U.S.
The pipes are leaking at St. Joseph's Cemetery. I bet ICE is to blame.
Protesters gathered at the John Moss Federal Building on January 24, 2026.
Tommy and Allen arrive to help set the world right.
Hoka wicasa and the Dakota Exiles Horse Ride
The anti-ICE protests in Sacramento have benefitted considerably from the presence of Hoka wicasa, who moved to California fairly-recently and to Sacramento for the moment. He is Dakota Sioux and better-known from the Dakota Exiles horse ride.
Busy Day - January 24, 2026
Busy day. Three demonstrations. Sunrise and Greenback (50 people-probably a record for them), Howe and Arden (100 people-definitely a record), and downtown at the John Moss Federal Building (70 people when I arrived, but increased to 140 in minutes).
A Song In Honor of Alex Pretti - Hoka wicasa - Outside ICE's Sacramento Field Office - January 24, 2026
Protesters milled outside the side gate on 7th Street at the John Moss Federal Building in Sacramento, CA, not long after an ICE van departed on business. Sacramento police closed the street to traffic in response. We expected the van to return carrying prisoners, but we didn't know when that would happen, so we waited.
I talked to four Sacramento police department cops, just to gauge their mood. They seemed pretty relaxed.
At one point, four ICE cops came out of the building, out of a pedestrian gate to remove debris that had been placed there that might restrict entry to the facility. One of them carried a gun that looked like it could shoot pepper balls. I was closest to the gate, so I said good evening to them. They ignored me.
The street was still closed, so when I finally left, about 10 p.m., I did four donuts outside the gate in my car. Nothing loud - no screeching tires - but still, a bit of contempt for these people.
Here's a forlorn song by Hoka wicasa in honor of the memory of Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis.
ICE Out Forever Protest March - January 23, 2026
This is the portion of march from the John Moss Federal Building to Cesar Chavez Park in Sacramento, CA. Video includes going through the short tunnel on 5th Street, heading to J Street, next to Golden One Arena. I was lagging behind, with cops closing behind.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
The Stupidest People on the Face of the Earth
Mr. Global’s take on American soybean farmers echoes mine. Seriously, the stupidest people on the face of the entire Earth.
@mrglobaltoo #soybeans #farmer #farms #fyp #fypã‚· ♬ original sound - Mr Global
Watching "Trainspotting"
Lately, I've been watching old movies on VHS tape. I've seen movies I overlooked over the years, including "Spaceballs," "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum," and "La Femme Nikita."
Alas, the videotape unraveled while I was watching "Trainspotting," the 1996 movie directed by Danny Boyle and starring Ewan McGregor, about the glories and pitfalls of heroin addiction in Scotland. I didn't get to see how the film ends.
Even worse, the VHS tape player doesn't work anymore. If I can't figure out this technical problem, against my will, I may be propelled out of the past. I will be one angry geezer, forced to deal with modern technology.
I'll have to watch "Trainspotting" again, hopefully sometime soon, with subtitles, so I can figure out more than every third word, or so.
Best scene ever: "The Worst Toilet in Scotland." My analogy: Trying to recover from MAGA by using elections alone is like trying to recover from heroin addiction by using expensive opium suppositories.
Particulate Air Pollution Formation Going Hog Wild in Sacramento Right Now
Particulate air pollution is a big problem in the Sacramento area at the instant.
I queried the Purple Air website for raw PM2.5 levels, particulate air pollution smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, in micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m^3), the size that most-affects lung function, averaged over one day.
The 24-hour national standard is 35 ug/m^3, so it's concerning we have levels around 50 ug/m^3 right now. You might be able to notice the bad air from your scratchy throat.
So, what gives? These particles are made mostly of ammonium nitrate. Particulate formation is often ammonia-limited in the summertime, but around here, under foggy wintertime conditions, that limitation is removed. The atmosphere goes hog-wild. There is plenty of ammonia and nitric acid and since one's a base and one's an acid they readily get together. Soon the air becomes filled with particles.
Here is AI's summary regarding particulate formation in the San Joaquin Valley (which is the same process that occurs elsewhere in California, including the Sacramento Valley):
- - -
Key Findings on Wintertime PM2.5 and Ammonia Nitrate-Driven Pollution:
High winter PM2.5 concentrations (often exceeding 35 (ug/m^3) are largely driven by the combination of NOx (from traffic/industry) and NH3 (primarily from agricultural sources) to form ammonium nitrate.
Limiting Factors: While the San Joaquin Valley has an excess of ammonia, NOx reductions are more effective than NH3 reductions in lowering wintertime ammonium nitrate levels.
Seasonal Peaks: PM2.5 concentrations in the Valley peak during winter due to stagnant air, fog, cold temperatures, and increased wood burning, with ammonium nitrate concentrations being three times higher in December than in June.
Regional Differences: In the SJV, ammonia is typically in excess, whereas in the South Coast Air Basin (LA region), wintertime PM2.5 may show different, more ammonia-limited characteristics due to regional differences in emissions.
Factors Influencing Winter PM2.5 Levels
Meteorology: Inversions, cold temperatures, and lack of rain trap pollutants, creating elevated, multi-day episodes.
Emission Sources: Key sources include residential wood burning (organic carbon) and ammonium nitrate formed from NOx and agricultural ammonia. Contribution of Ammonia:
Despite being often NOx-limited, ammonia is still crucial to the inorganic PM2.5 mass; studies show that over 50% of inorganic PM2.5 in California is linked to anthropogenic ammonia.
Monday, January 19, 2026
Trump Train Thugs Pay A Visit - January 17, 2026
Video was posted on Reddit from last Saturday's Trump-Train attack on one of our own at Camp Justice, at the John Moss Federal Building on N Street. I learn several things from the video:
1.) We need to make sure that when we have multiple demonstrations occurring at nearly the same time that people are not left shorthanded at any time at any location,
2.) The Trump Train stopped and nearly-blocked N Street, creating conditions suitable for their attack,
3.) On the flip side, because the Trump Train is so bulky, it becomes easier to add roadblocks and prevent the entire Trump Train from leaving the scene.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Time To Check In With My Relatives
Oh, Gawd!!! Oh well, at least he's a relation by marriage rather than by blood....:
He's got a nice smile...
Former state police officer Corey Newman, 30, of Edgewood, had been charged in June with criminal sexual contact with a minor. It was also revealed in court Thursday that Newman was fired when he was charged, and at the time, state police were investigating him for stalking women.
Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, he would have been sentenced to as little as five years of probation and would also have to register as a sex offender for life.
But, in court Thursday, his attorney didn't want the former officer to have a felony record, and a judge threw the agreement out, forcing a possible trial.
Hmmm, this story is 2.5 years old. I thought he was pretty well-respected, in part due to this 2022 incident:
As the officer approached the vehicle, Saldivar got out of the vehicle and locked the doors. The officer asked Saldivar to stand on the passenger side of his marked patrol vehicle while he got some information. Saldivar walked over to the officer’s patrol unit and then reached for a black object that he had concealed in his jacket pocket. The officer immediately created distance and drew his duty weapon, but Saldivar charged the officer and tackled him.
During the attack, the officer fired at least one shot from his duty weapon striking Saldivar. After the gunshot was fired Saldivar continued to fight the officer and tried to grab the officer’s gun. As the two struggled, Saldivar bit the back of the officer’s arm. At this point, Saldivar had managed to retrieve a gun from his jacket. He was holding the gun in his hand, attempting to chamber a round into the weapon. Officer Newman wrestled the suspect’s gun away from him and threw it to the side.
@benjaminus16 ♬ original sound - user3739519190161310 - benjaminus16
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