Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Fairfield Downtown Association's Business Directory


Check Out Fairfield Downtown Association's Business Directory.

Our town's important Fairfield Downtown Association Business Directory is in full color.  FixFairfield.Org is looking forward to getting updates to the Fairfield Downtown Association website's links to its members.  Let's promote our downtown by making links to the new directory, and letting friends know about the site.

Get free copies of the Fairfield Downtown Association Business Directory at:
Fairfield Downtown Association at 1000 Texas St. Suite D 707-422-0103
Solano Business Incubator, on the second floor of California Business Center, 1652 West Texas Street, Fairfield, California 94533 (diagonally across the modern indoor - outdoor pool in Allan Witt Park).
• Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce, Fairfield City Hall, and local retail stores in downtown Fairfield, California.

Also check out the upcoming Solano Business Directory from Solano Business Incubator.
FixFairfield.Org affiliated with Solano Business Incubator and California Business Center has been a member for many years. We look forward to working with Margaret Manzo the new head of Fairfield Downtown Association. Margaret Manzo reports to Curt Johnston. Johnston is working hard to help Fairfield businesses grow and create more new Fairfield job openings.

How City Mayors Outside Fairfield Help Small Business

Here Is How City Mayors Outside Fairfield Help Small Businesses.

While they may have larger budgets than any Solano County mayors from cities like Vallejo, Fairfield or Vacaville, it's interesting to see how the mayors help small businesses.

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/small-business/financing/small-business-help-offered-nations-mayors

Monday, December 13, 2010

Better To Buy Or Rent Your Fairfield Home? In Today's Market Consider These Options.

Is it better to buy or rent your Fairfield home?  Today's Fairfield real estate market is different from earlier years. Karen Rodgers, a local Fairfield real estate agent believes today's low interest rates, and low Solano County real estate prices won't continue much longer.

Here's another perspective:
http://pcmgonline.com/2010/11/02/situations-in-which-leasing-is-better-than-buying/

Free Solano County prescription discount card

There's a free prescription discount card saving around 20%.  Everyone is eligible to use the Solano County prescription discount card. 

This is especially useful for those who currently lack health insurance.  Tell your friends who don't have health insurance about the Solano County prescription discount card.

http://www.co.solano.ca.us/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=72&TargetID=8

Annabelle's Boutique Moving to Downtown Fairfield

Annabelle's Boutique sells brightly colored handbags and contemporary jewelry. Sales benefit the Solano County nonprofit organization Project Turnaround, which supports Fairfield families in need.

Annabelle's Boutique will relocate from West Texas Street to Downtown Fairfield.  Annabelle's Boutique also plans to provide a Fairfield community gathering space for classes and other Fairfield business people. Fairfield women entrepreneurs will also have a chance to take part.

Cops Close Fairfield Pot Shop Operating Behind Papered Windows

Cops Close Fairfield Pot Shop Operating Behind Papered Windows

Fairfield police officers locates the Fairfield pot store.  The Fairfield pot shop’s owner, appears to be Michelle Nix from Georgetown, California - north of Placerville.

Fairfield police would not elaborate about where the Fairfield marijuana store's commercial space was located.  The illegal pot shop was behind an unmarked Fairfield storefront.  Further suspicion came from the fact that there were bars on the Fairfield pot shop doors and windows, plus paper covering the windows, Fairfield cops said.

Check upcoming details in central Solano County's newspaper. Learn more about the Fairfield pot shop at Daily Republic (password required).  Because of the lack of legal Solano County pot shops, Solano marijuana buyers often shop in Berkeley medical marijuana pot shops, or go further south for Oakland pot shops.

Friday, December 10, 2010

City Stole Gateway From West Texas St?

Even the unofficial name for the main gateway into the non completed central Fairfield redevelopment  project was hijacked.  Fairfield Planning appears to have also have copied "Fairfield Gateway" used to describe West Texas Street.  Attempts to change the name for West Texas Street to a name less confusing with North Texas Street were turned down.  This is despite the fact that GPS often directs people to North Texas Street when they really want the city's Fairfield Gateway to downtown.
The street surrounding Solano Mall took the word "Gateway".  The "Gateway" term per the trademark people at Fairfield's Invention Springboard, does not appear to be similar enough to warrant forcing the city to change the name. 

This is another political use for hurting central Fairfield, while helping the new businesses surrounding Solano Mall.

See today's write up titled "How st name Fairfield chose for Business Center dr causes interesting problems".

How st name Fairfield chose for Business Center dr may cause confusiion.

Is big Fairfield City Hall picking on small businesses in Fairfield?  There is an interesting twisted way Fairfield uses new city street names to help their businesses friends.  By helping some business friends, it's hurting others in twisted ways. The methods the city uses can be subtle or not even realized by the common Fairfield voter.

This time the drama was about how Fairfield picks street names to perhaps help their commercial real estate developer buddies.  Fairfield's reasonably new Business Center roadway could have received a different street name. Did Fairfield planning forget that the term "Business Center" is too similar to the name used for the professional office building on the main Fairfield gateway into downtown?

Business Center drive is too similar to California Business Center™.  It's a political battle over key word terms.

California Business Center™ mentioned the potential confusion many times to Fairfield Planning, but nothing changed.  People have agreed the Business Center drive could change its name from "Business Center" to "Fairfield Business Avenue". But this would be too disruptive for Business Center street's tenants. The US trademark office won't act unless a suit is filed.

This is only one of many examples used by Fairfield Planning to confuse or divert business away from California Business Center™.  The business center on the main Fairfield gateway into downtown operates Solano Business Incubator designed to help new and growing small businesses.  Small businesses are expected to create most of the new jobs coming to Solano County, barring further city interference.

"Business Center" is clearly not in the center of Fairfield that the city promised to further improve.  Instead the planning strategy is to divert attention from the central business district to Fairfield's other "Business Center".

If one can't quite remember the name for "California Business Center" but remembers "business center" and knows they are in fairfield,  one might google it.  As there are many Fairfield townships in the world, they might add "California" to the search. But googling, "Fairfield" and "business center" and "California" will largely direct people to Business Center dr instead.  Just another aspect to consider. What came up today was TheRealPlaces.com and many other sites along with CaliforniaBusinessCenter.com, etc.

There are many other examples for how Unfair Fairfield City Hall used "Business Center" to help friends and fight their friend's business competitors.  Guess why voters can't vote for who gets onto the Fairfield Planning Commission?  Planners are very sophisticated in the art of planning and helping their buddies.  Planning is a sophisticated art that has lots of power, and is to explain for most of Fairfield's crime and other problems today.

North Connector will link into Business Center drive.  The other confusion factor should be solved by Dec 2010 or the next month or so.  Are planners indirectly using the money that was to improve the link from highway I-80 to downtown Fairfield to instead help their buddies on Business Center drive?

Do Fairfield planners want Business Center dr to link with Suisun Valley rd, Suisun parkway, and Mangels blvd?  More details at http://www.dailyrepublic.com/ (password required).

Another example of street name swapping is found in this FixFairfield blog titled "City Stole Gateway From West Texas St?"  This is another political use for hurting central Fairfield, while helping the new businesses surrounding Solano Mall.


Look more at the pattern of Fairfield City Council pushing its interests against certain parties, than at just the use of street names.  Then one will get a wider perspective of where Fairfield city hall's real alliances are.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Save Fairfield Garbage Fees Thru Recycle Program

Many Fairfield Citizens Don't Know They Save Garbage Fees Thru Signing Up With Solano Garbage's Recycle Program.

For example Solano Business Incubator researched that 90% of their waste was paper and cardboard. So they reduced Solano Garbage pickups for regular garbage.  They are only charged for regular garbage.  This saved them lots of money, which is intern lets Solano Business Incubator offer very low prices for small Solano businesses headquartered in the professional office building complex.

Solano Business Incubator discussed the matter at the Fairfield City Council session. Solano Garbage's contact with Fairfield is up for renewal in Nov 2012.

If you have a DR password, get more details at www.DailyRepublic.com.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Fairfield-Suisun School District's governing board's upcoming election

Fairfield-Suisun School District's governing board will be electing their president, president-elect and a clerk.

Fairfield-Suisun School District details being covered by www.DailyRepublic.com

Cordelia Angry At Proposed Apartment Construction In Their Neighborhood

New Storm Brewing About Proposed Cordelia Apartment Construction.

Nearly 40 disgruntled Cordelia residents gathered last week at the Cordelia library to discuss the details of a proposed Cordelia development that would put a whopping 324 Cordelia apartment units along Red Top Road.

For the development proposal to get the go-ahead, the Fairfield City Council would need to vote to amend Fairfield's General Plan and change current Fairfield zoning.

As Fairfield City Hall promised to upgrade the main gateway into Fairfield via West Texas Street, Fairfield City Council is running out of locations for placing new apartment buildings.

More at the Fairfield newspaper www.DailyRepublic.com, and the Save Cordelia site www.SaveCordelia.com.

Details on the Fairfield public hearing http://www.savecordelia.com/meetings/index.htm

Monday, December 6, 2010

Fairfield Should Rank High For IQ. Santa Rosa Ranks 39th. Vallejo Places 127th

Fairfield Should Rank High For IQ. Santa Rosa Ranks 39th. Vallejo Places 127th.

Fairfield has one of the highest number of inventions per person in the country. It seems this fact was not properly used in the IQ index.

Let's hope Fairfield will be smart enough to fix its problems.

More on brain indexing local cities:
http://www.portfolio.com/slideshows/2010/12/25-Most-Educated-Cities

http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/27555/santa-rosa-ranks-39th-in-nation-on-brainpower-index/

Fairfield Opens Modern Pool, While Benicia May Close Their Pool

Benicia is looking at the possibility of having to close their Olympic sized pool. This comes soon after Fairfield City Council opened the super modern indoor-outdoor pool in Allan Witt Park on West Texas Street.  The new Allan Witt Park pool is on the main gateway to the modern Solano County office building.
 
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_16788117

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Downtown Fairfield Christmas Event - Dec 3rd

The Downtown Fairfield Christmas Event - Dec 3rd

Check-in 6:00 - 6:30 pm  Jefferson & Texas Street
Pick up your candle, program, and shopping guide

6:30 - 7:00 pm Candlelight Parade & Caroling
Jefferson & Texas Street

7:00 - 8:00 pm Children's Holiday Review
Fairfield Center for Creative Arts, 1035 Texas Street

8:00 - 9:30 pm Stocking Stuffer Scavenger Hunt
Distributed in front of Center for Creative Arts

8:00 - 9:00 pm Sullivan Middle School Band & Choir
Madison & Texas Street

8:00 - 9:00 pm Scarlett Brigade Pipe Band
Jefferson & Texas Street

7:30 - 9:30 pm Photos with Santa ($2.00 each)
Canepa Deli Courtyard, 721 Texas Street

Train Rides (Free)
Board at intersections along Texas Street

Horse Drawn Wagon Rides ($1.00 per person)
Board at Jackson & Texas Street

Questions Call 707-422-0103

Mayor Harry Price Meeting FixFairfield.Org

Mayor Harry Price will be soon meeting with FixFairfield.Org to discuss what can be done to fix Fairfield within limited budgets.  A date has yet to be set.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Tax Dollars Fighting Private Green Technology Innovation Again

The Solano County organization that probably develops the greatest number of green technology innovations is Innovation Institute in Fairfield. Innovation has been developing green technology since 1991. The new Solano Green Business Council has a political agenda, so naturally Solano Green Business Council didn't invite Innovation Institute to speak at the event. Solano Green Business Council didn't even offer an invitation to attend. Check out Solano Green Business Council and how your tax dollars are supporting Solano Green Business Council. Help requests from Innovation Institute to numerous local government agencies continue to go unanswered. Protecting our environment, and creating jobs should come before politics if its your tax dollars supporting these programs, right?

Innovation Institute has the largest known patent applications in green technology.  This is compared to all known published patent applications in the 80 countries in which the patent applications were filed.

Solano Green Business Council has many good points as well. For details contact your city hall in Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville and Vallejo which are directly or indirectly supporting them.  The article www.DailyRepublic.com also provides details on their conference.

To see the wider non-political side of innovative green business in Solano County, join Innovation Institute's meetings.  Tax funded organizations are invited naturally.  Free refreshments.  707 425-8000.

Disclaimer: No information anywhere in this blog is warranted for accuracy. As government agencies have not provided the requested information on their activities, per the Sunshine Act, realize important details are probably missing.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Fairfield Pepperbellys Getting New Management

Pepperbellys took stronger control over the great Fairfield comedy club.

Pepperbellys' founder Wayne Mayhew smartly evicted the former Pepperbellys operators, and quickly released the club to Vacaville entrepreneurs.  FixFairfield.Org looks forward to the new changes. 

More details the Fairfield newspaper Daily Republic.

Pepperbellys is considered to be Solano County's best comedy club, attracting comedy lovers from Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville, Vallejo, Davis, Sacramento County, Napa County, Contra Costa County, Etc.

Good Fairfield Resource Links


Good Resource Links About Fairfield, California

• About Fairfield – Geography, history, Fairfield demographics, business, schools, recreation
• Fairfield City Hall www.ci.fairfield.ca.us
• Fairfield Gateway www.FairfieldGateway.Org  Blog on city’s promise to fix Fairfield Gateway www.FairfieldGateway.BlogSpot.com
• Newspaper www.dailyrepublic.com
• Modern Public Swimming Pool http://www.ci.fairfield.ca.us/gov/depts/cr/aquatics/allanwitt/default.asp in Fairfield’s Alan Witt Park http://www.allanwittpark.org
• Fairfield office space for rent. Fairfield commercial space for lease or sale. Solano commercial real estate referrals www.NearI80.com 707 427-6520.
• Solano Business Directory www.SolanoBusinessDirectory.com

Can Fairfield Improve It's Image? What Score Does Fairfield City Get For How Well It Brands Itself?

Branding Fairfield.

Can Fairfield Improve It's Image? What Score Does Fairfield City Get For How Well It Brands Itself?  This article says cities like Fairfield, California should make cosmetic changes and get lots of value from this.  The suggestions also apply to California's Solano County's Benicia, Dixon, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville, and Vallejo.

How about emphasizing the word "Fair" when promoting Fairfield?  "Fair" has a nice comforting ring to it.  Hence the popular "Fairfield Inn".  But then Fairfield citizens might complain the city isn't fair enough in how things are done.  So scratch the possibility of ever seeing a fair push for "Fair" in any branding right?

http://mandyvavrinak.com/economic-development/branding-places/

Economic Development In A Texas City. Someone Fairfield Might Learn From?

Is The Economic Development In A Texas City, Something Fairfield Might Learn From?

http://www.missioneda.org/?ctt_id=2547023&ctt_adnw=Google&ctt_kw=rio%20grande%20valley%20economic%20development&ctt_ch=ps&ctt_entity=tc

Study Questions If Fairfield Should Continue Promoting Lower Wage Factory Jobs

Is Fairfield's Sugar Cluster Economic Development What Fairfield Needs?

Study Puts In A Question As To Whether Fairfield Should Continue Promoting Lower Wage Factory Jobs.  Fairfield City Hall prides itself with having its economic development focus on bringing in large industrial type companies.  They mention the sugar related industries as being a cluster to develop.  However do clusters really work?  Maybe they do, maybe they don't.

One thing is clear, Fairfield could focus more on creating higher paying jobs.  But instead the city might even fight private efforts to bring higher paying jobs as explained in FixFairfield.org's blog.

Higher paying Fairfield jobs means less crime.

“…the author looked at the financial advantages, and costs, that clusters provided for firms throughout the life cycle of two innovative industries — semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. He examined 31 years of data on 194 publicly traded companies, which enabled him to see how clustered and nonclustered firms performed at various points in an industry’s life cycle. Surprisingly, the author found no clear evidence that clusters enhance a firm’s financial performance.”

Think about Fairfield's Sugar Cluster Economic Development
while reading this article http://developmentmarketing.blogspot.com/2010/06/does-location-really-matter.html 

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Free Workshop For Fairfield Small Businesses. Picking Good Trademarks.

Discover how small Fairfield businesses select and get trademarks for under $400.

Interesting tips on selecting good trademarks for your Fairfield business.  How to get free legal help from the US Patent and Trademark Office.

45 minute workshop to be held by Steven Kays, CEO of Solano Business Incubator, at California Business Center on Dec 1st.  Call 707 434-8000.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Extended Fairfield Unemployment Benefits Ending?

Are Extended Fairfield Unemployment Benefits Ending? Unless the US congress further extends the 99 week unemployment benefits package, many unemployed Fairfield citizens will be suffering.

Luckily the local unemployment rate is improving.

More Solano County business news, jobs and income generation ideas at Solano Business News www.SolanoBusinessNews.com - The premier Solano County business news source for small businesses in Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville, Vallejo and next door Napa County.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant opens in #Solano #County in #Fairfield

Wing restaurant opens in mall.  More on Buffalo Wild Wings and owner Hardy Sam rawww.DailyRepublic.com

Free Fairfield Workshop To Beautify Your House. Learn How To Put In Natural Hedges With Native Plants!

Free Fairfield Workshop To Beautify Your Fairfield House. Learn How To Put In Natural Hedges With Native Plants In Your Yard !

Contact Katherine Holmes at Katherine.Holmes@solanorcd.org or 678-1655 ext. 118.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Secret Dangers About Fairfield Tattoo Parlors

Fairfield tattoo parlors are all the rage.

Some tattoos can look very nice before they need to get refreshed with more ink.

Secret Dangers About Fairfield Tattoo Parlors
• The more tattoos a person has, the greater the likelihood they have caught hepatitis C.
• Solano tattoo parlors that don't change both the needles, and the ink for each color used can transmit any number of diseases you don't want to learn how to pronounce.  Hepatitis C in Solano County is only one of them.
• Fairfield City Hall is not really monitoring Solano tattoo parlors.
• Why doesn't Solano county government monitor Fairfield tattoo parlors? It's a "free speech" thing. But what about freedom from catching disease from the previous tattoo client exercising their free speech?
• Fairfield tattoo parlor price wars are such that not replacing ink cartridges can make a big difference as to whether the Vacaville tattoo parlor stays in business or goes bankrupt.

Google search "tattoo parlor" dangers, and this might convince your smart Solano child to reconsider getting a tattoo in Solano County.

New Vacaville tattoo parlor opens to compete with Fairfield tattoo parlors http://www.thereporter.com/business/ci_16610604

Fairfield Tattoo Parlor prices are dropping.  Will there be another Fairfield Tattoo Parlor price war?  Fairfield Tattoo Parlor price fixing is illegal, and there are other cities to get price quotes from as well.  Everyone want's the cheapest tattoo price in Solano County.

While Solano County Environmental Health requires some license and does some Solano tattoo parlor monitoring, how do you really know how your Solano tattoo artist is saving costs when Solano County isn't watching?  http://www.co.solano.ca.us/depts/rm/environmental_health/consumer/tatoo_body_piercing_and_cosmetics.asp


Perhaps all Solano tattoo artists are ethical enough to pay out the higher costs as explained. 

Whatever you do, just be careful with your decision to go or not go for price quotes at Fairfield Tattoo Parlors.

Friday, November 12, 2010

More Educated Fairfield Voters Are The Answer

More Educated Fairfield Voters Are The Answer.

Read the Daily Republic article on the fast food they want to have replace Marie Calendar's across from the Hyatt - Garden Inn Hotel. Is downgrading Fairfield now the official moto for the city of Fairfield?





Isn't this action disrespecting the Hyatt investors who sunk lots of money creating a nice impression for Fairfield? It's highly visible from I-80.  The Hyatt hotel manager has often attended the chamber's political discussions.  Is there by small chance the possibility that the city is retaliating against them for political reasons?  Fairfield is well known to harass businesses by letting their immediate area get worse and other odd activities. This blog covers it too.

I'd like the city to list all the upgrading, and downgrading projects they've pushed.  There should be another column for "questionable". I'd be careful that downgrades aren't put into the upgrade category, strictly because it's a change. While change is often good, we can't presume all change is good, just because it's a change.

Now simply changing the city council may not solve all the problems.  Educated Fairfield voters know this. First one needs a majority on the council.  Second the problem has not changed despite numerous changes in the city council.  What's the solution?

More Educated Fairfield Voters Are The Answer.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Rodriguez High Teacher Implicated In Child Molestation

Here comes another arrest of staff from Fairfield's high schools.

Felica Killings aged 27 was arrested Tue Nov 9th for multiple counts of child molestation. Felicia Killings is a high school teacher at Fairfield's Rodriguez High School.

Details at www.DailyRepublic.com.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Books To Help Fix Fairfield

There are many books that will teach us not to make the same mistakes other American cities and towns made in their redevelopment programs. Suisun City knew what they were doing because they read the right books.

There are many books available through Fairfield's Barnes & Noble. Or they can be ordered through them online. For example, "
A City Transformed: Redevelopment, Race, and Suburbanization in Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1940-1980", by David Schuyler. Used copies can be had for $15 and up online.

More Solano County business news, jobs and income generation ideas at Solano Business News www.SolanoBusinessNews.com - The premier Solano County business news source for small businesses in Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville, Vallejo and next door Napa County.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Where Fairfield Gets Its Water

Details On Where Fairfield Gets Its Water.

Fairfield water source: http://www.water-ed.org/watersources/community.asp?rid=4&cid=488

It's not too specific however. Would be nice to see something showing what percent of our water comes from where.

Many of the big food companies like Budweiser like Fairfield water quality which is why they opened shop here.

Athenian Grill Helping Rodriguez and Armijo

Motivating Fairfield - Suisun High School Kids - Athenian Grill Helping Rodriguez and Armijo. Donations are made to Rodriguez and Armijo high school students who are applying themselves in school.

It's nice to see one of the area's nice restaurants being pro-active. 

Full article in the Fairfield-Suisun Chamber newsletter sent to members.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Fairfield Gateway Site Seeks Volunteers

Fairfield Gateway seeks Fairfield volunteers to update its website. It's your chance to help fix Fairfield and make a difference.  It's better to join in than complain about how Fairfield needs to improve its small business climate. Call them at 707 427-6400.

How Will Fairfield's History Be Written?


Today and Tomorrow - Fairfield History Books Might Write

Fairfield History Up To 2000:
• Fairfield’s Indians settled in Fairfield’s Rockville and Green Valley areas.
• In 1810 Gabriel Moraga was sent by the Spanish to take over local Suisun Indians. Sadly the Suisun Indians retreated.
• The Suisun Chief Solano in 1842 sold the land. It changed hands and ended up with A.A. Ritchie and Captain Waterman for only $50,000.
• Waterman named the area Fairfield in 1856, after his home in Connecticut. Fairfield became an incorporated city in 1903.

Fairfield History After 2000:

• City spent its redevelopment funds building new projects while forgetting its promise to fix central Fairfield.
• Central Fairfield declined.
• Fairfield voters stood up and demanded the entire Fairfield City Council unite in fixing Fairfield as they were promised decades earlier. Getting only two of the five city council votes wasn't enough.
• Let's hope the Fairfield history continues with... Central Fairfield is redeveloped as promised.  It's a win-win for everyone.

Loyalty Is Important In Fairfield City Promotion To Fairfield Public Works Chief

Fairfield's Public Works assistant director now leads the department. Fairfield City Hall's article 

http://www.ci.fairfield.ca.us/latest_news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=149&TargetID=1


With the limited budget let's hope the new Fairfield Public Works chief will practice cost effective business planning.  Good luck!

Fairfield Jelly Belly Tour Video

Enjoy the video http://www.vidly.net/video-jellybelly-factory-tour.html

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Fairfield Voters Want Better Fairfield Restaurants

What was one of the biggest complaints Steven Kays kept hearing from Fairfield voters when I ran and almost won the Fairfield City Council seat? Voters were driving to Napa and Vacaville due to the lack of good Fairfield restaurants.

But Fairfield politics often is not nice and tidy to fit into a single focus oriented commentary. We all need to frequent the relatively better quality restaurants Fairfield has (i can't put in a plug for them here). This will send a message to Fairfield restaurateurs. 

This doesn't have to stop one from taking the fast drive to central Napa which is about 25 minutes from central Fairfield.  Why drive to Vacaville when Napa has a much more developed restaurant culture? Dollar for dollar you get more in Napa's affordable restaurants than in Solano's. This all ties into why Napa with somewhat similar grape growing climate and soil has taken the world by storm while Solano continues to sleep.  The Solano Business News covers the possibility for Solano to trademark itself like Napa did, and learn from Napa's mistakes as well. Ask any of the Suisun wine growers about this.

Details at Fairfield's newspaper. (The Daily Republic requires a password which is free to print subscribers).  Free Fairfield news with fewer articles naturally, is at Solano Business News.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Fairfield Riffraff Ordinance - City Wants To Weaken It?


Will converting Fairfield motels increase or decrease Fairfield crime?  Fairfield city hall wants to convert motels from long-term stay to short term stay.  Up to now, Fairfield motel guests can stay only up to 30 days.

This is the “Fairfield Riff Raff Ordinance”. Some at Fairfield Police might unofficially say the 30 day maximum stay is another way to keep out Fairfield riff raff.

Instead of focusing on the city’s important promise to improve blighted parts of Fairfield, it’s again focusing on ways to worsen Fairfield’s blighted neighborhoods.

In 2008 Fairfield stopped allowing new motel construction (others call it affordable hotels). John Mraz, and Cat Moy, and the others on the Fairfield City Council wisely believe Fairfield motels are an important focus for cutting Fairfield crime rates.

Solano needs to give affordable housing.  And Fairfield continues to take up the problem because the other Solano cities are informally saying they want Fairfield to take on the responsibility.

More details at the Fairfield newspaper www.dailyrepublic.com. Check out the other articles on how the city is keeping or not keeping its promise to Fix Fairfield.

What are your views?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

What Are The Best Employers City Should Target? 1st Question: What Are Fairfield Buyer Tastes?

What type of new business will Fairfield support?


What are common Fairfield buying tastes? How can you best predict what Fairfield services or customers Fairfield customers are most likely to buy? The subject has dozens of main components. Are you open minded into looking at what might constitute your Fairfield customer buying preferences?

Naturally look at common factors within your industry nationwide.  Then consider the Fairfield regional differences. What sells well elsewhere in California may not sell as well here. Fairfield customer preferences will be shown to have at least moderate deviations from the norm. Step outside the Fairfield mindset and look at Solano customer buying preferences objectively.

Factors To Consider:
• Solano election voter traits: More below
• Worldliness: Travis Air Force gives people lots of travel experience.  Plus those who do travel share their experiences with those who are less fortunate to have traveled as much.
• Proximity to Inner Bay Area: Napa, Berkeley, San Francisco and Silicon Valley. These regions often pride in their worldliness.  Their greater level of liberal intellectuals exposes those in Fairfield to alternative ideas. At least your Fairfield clients might be more accepting of liberal modalities, even if such are not fully embraced.
• Proximity to Central Valley: Their citizens are more conservative, and will influence Fairfield tastes and buying decisions accordingly.
• Bedroom Community: This facet pushes people usually to the more conservative. 

Comments Innovation Institute Received About Solano Buying Tastes Versus The Inner Bay Area (not necessarily our opinion - so don't take this personally). Most other Solano business information sources may not have the guts to reprint the following:
• Spends less. Expects more value for the money.
• More prone to celebrate bank holidays, so are more able to shop on those days.
• Spend much of their purchasing dollars outside Fairfield and even Solano County. Suisun worked hard to reverse this imbalance and mayor Pete Sanchez, along with city council members Mike Hudson, and Jane Day are continuing to attract businesses while Fairfield might focus on other types of businesses (to be discussed in future articles).
• Fairfield Restaurants: Less healthy food oriented, yet this is changing. Exotic ethnic foods are becoming more popular - look at the new Afghanistan restaurant's popularity in Fairfield's Gateway mall, but the health oriented Chipotle's (started by McDonalds) is much more crowded.
• Yoga is growing in popularity but remains well behind the Inner Bay Area. A new center just opened in central Fairfield 707 427-6400.
• Book purchasing: Fewer people book aficionados touring used book stores. However thrift stores remain popular for the thrifty Fairfield consumer.
• More willing to drive a few extra miles.

How Does Solano Compare With California State As A Whole? In many ways Solano voters picked election candidates like other California voters. So far liberal Jerry Brown beat Meg Whitman 53.7% to 41.3% statewide. Jerry Brown beat Meg Whitman 58% to 36.8% in Solano County.

Detailed analysis on Solano buying tastes can be created by Innovation Institute in Fairfield at 707 428-5000.


How Solano Voters Stack Against Voters Statewide


In many ways Solano voters picked election candidates like other California voters.

So far Jerry Brown beat Meg Whitman 53.7 percent to 41.3 percent statewide.

Jerry Brown beat Meg Whitman 58% to 36.8% in Solano County, making Solano as usual more liberal than at least the central valley voters.

Details at the Fairfield – Suisun newspaper www.DailyRepublic.com

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Like Him Or Not - Give Governor Brown A Chance. No Other Choice.

More Fairfield businesses backed Meg Whitman than Jerry Brown this election.

Like it or not, Brown may actually get the state government to seriously fix its ways. At this point, let's give Jerru Brown a strong level of support to let this happen.  Brown just might be able to speak on the democrat's level and fight for what's right.  Time will tell.

More on Brown.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Government Workshop: Start Your Own Business

The Solano Small Business Development Center is offering the workshop: How to Start Your Small Business.

It is 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the conference room at the middle of the second floor in the California Business Center, 1652 W. Texas Street, Fairfield.  Located diagonally from the new ultra modern indoor swimming pool complex in Allan Witt Park.


The starting your own business workshop space and coffee are donated by Solano Business Incubator. The office building has more businesses than any other office building in Solano and Yolo county.

Matt Garcia Center Gets Another $5000 Donation

 Business Contractors Helping Local Youth Center

Northern California Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors gave $5,000 to the Matt Garcia Youth Center. It’s past president Gary Walker said it raises money through its Solano golf tournaments. Gary Walker was the youngest Fairfield City Council member until Matt Garcia was elected in 2007.


Fairfield and Solano Elections

What happens in neighboring Solano cities effects Fairfield's economy and how quickly we can fix it.

My suggestions for Solano election candidates that are business friendly & may create Solano job openings. I created these blogs. Feel free to comment on the blogs. Send your friends this blog link if they live in Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville or Vallejo.

• Mariko Yamada, State Assembly 8th District
http://www.marikoyamadastateassemblysupporters.blogspot.com/ While some may prefer Yamada's republican opponent, with liberal Davis being part of the 8th district, it's unlikely anyone but Yamada will win.  Plus my conversations with Yamada were very pro-business.
• Pete Sanchez, Suisun Mayor http://suisunmayorpetesanchez.blogspot.com/

On other links, check out the Suisun Voters site www.SuisunVoters.com.  www.SolanoBusinessNews.com also covers the economic impacts on Fairfield's economy.
If we require a larger majority of the state assembly to agree on tax increases, there's less chance for special interest groups to push for more taxes and such.
It's OK for us to have different views on Solano politics.  Key is for us to work together and work out our differences. Are all Fairfield City Council members listening to more than the special interest groups?

Cheers
Steven Kays, Founder
FixFairfield.Org
434-8000

Fairfield Polling Places

Fairfield Polling Places: 

Find your Solano election polling booth locations at http://www.co.solano.ca.us/depts/rov/. Cast ballots by Tue, Nov 2 8PM. 

Vote for the most business friendly Solano election candidates!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Will Fairfield Art Explosion Stay?

There's an interested construction company buyer wishing to purchase an important building in downtown Fairfield. The three-year old Art Explosion - an art gallery and studio space there was using it until a buyer was found.

The buyer wants to tap into all the traffic coming through West Texas Street leading into the new Solano County capital building.  The key concern is will Fairfield city keep it's promise to redevelop the city's main gateway in 2000?

Where did the money for fixing West Texas Street go before the recession hit? More people will spend money in downtown Fairfield, creating more job openings when the city follows through its promise to quickly redevelop the street. Construction was to start in 2000 or so. It's a win-win for everyone.

Details at www.DailyRepublic.com

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Neighboring Suisun Election: Will Jane Day Win Nov 2nd? Your Thoughts?


Jane Day is loved by many Suisun voters. Our Solano election analysis shows Jane Day likes small business, such as the Solano Business Incubator. Many Solano business owners are guessing Jane Day will win the election. Vote Tue Nov 2 in the Suisun election.

Today’s voters are predicted to elect Jane Day candidate into Suisun political office. The Solano election candidates are focusing on small business Solano job openings.

Remember all these names when checking your ballot. John Vasquez, Peter Sanchez, Jane Day, Dilenna Harris, Curtis Hunt, Mike Fortney, and Mariko Yamada. They want to create more Solano job openings for the unemployed.

Faifield Polling Booths

Here are your Fairfield election polling booth locations in Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville and Vallejo
http://www.co.solano.ca.us/depts/rov/. Cast ballots for your city, Solano, state and national candidates Tue, Nov 2, 2010 by 8PM.

It’s now too late to put your candidate ballots in the mail. Bring them to the polling booths.

Fairfield candidate election results will be updated periodically. Election results might be posted starting an hour after polls close Tue, Nov 2nd at http://www.co.solano.ca.us/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=9668.  

Think wisely before you check the box next to the candidate of your choice!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Mariko Yamada - state assembly election

Consider Voting For Mariko Yamada

State Assembly District 8: Mariko Yamada. As state assembly member Mariko Yamada has shown herself to be very pro Solano business.

In Fairfield you may enjoy other views. Decide for yourself who you believe is best Tue Nov 2nd.

Check Out Fix Fairfield Gateway Website. Show You Care!

An important part for fixing Fairfield, capital of Solano County. Visit Fairfield Gateway site. Show you care and book mark this blog and the www.FairfieldGateway.org site.

Fairfield Redevelopment Links (Not government sponsored)


Fairfield Redevelopment Links (Not gov sponsored)
New $101M county center office building past the 2010 innovative pool development on main gateway into downtown Fairfield, West Texas Street.
• County capital where most highways converge, and more business services congregate is being redeveloped. Redeveloping Fairfield with Fix Fairfield www.FixFairfield.org. Fix Fairfield Blog www.
• Solano economic development www.SolanoIncubator.com office space rentals for entrepreneurs from Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Napa, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville, Vallejo.
• Solano Business News www.SolanoBusinessNews.com

Best Fairfield And County Government Solano Blogs


Best Government Solano Blogs:
• Fairfield Voters http://FairfieldVoters.BlogSpot.com active before Fairfield elections every other year.
• Check in coming months for updates to the government election and politics sites www.SolanoPolitics.com www.FairfieldPolitics.com www.SuisunPolitics.com www.VacavillePolitics.com Active during elections.
• Suisun Government, Elections, Suisun Voters www.SuisunVoters.com Active election seasons.

Best Fairfield & Solano Business Blogs & Links


Best Fairfield & Solano Business Blogs & Links
• Business Incubator – Helping Solano Small Businesses. Solano Business Incubator™ www.SolanoIncubator.com Solano economic development.
• Directory – Solano Business Directory www.SolanoBusinessDirectory.com for Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Napa (next door), Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville and Vallejo business resources and links.  Includes Solano conference rooms, cost effective office rentals, government contact listings, cheapest copier services, Solano Non-Profits, etc.
• Directory – Solano.Biz. The business directory www.Solano.biz will be updated soon.
• Fairfield Business http://www.dailyrepublic.com/index_business.php?id=301 Free to Fairfield newspaper subscribers.
• Other county newspaper blog – Solano County News. Consumer, politics & business newspaper: http://Solano-BusinessNews.BlogSpot.com for innovative Solano people.
• Selling - Buying Solano Businesses http://www.bizben.com/business-for-sale/solano-county.php
• Small Businesses Saving Money - Coupons For Business Customers: B2B Coupons: http://solanoB2Bcoupons.blogspot.com/
• Solano Business News www.SolanoBusinessNews.com for innovative Solano businesses.
• Solano Economic Development http://solanocountybusinessnews.blogspot.com/ Government paid business blog.
• Vacaville Business http://www.thereporter.com/business for innovative Vacaville businesses.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

No $ For Schools? Can Fairfield Learn From Others Without Raising Taxes Again?

Is Fairfield innovative enough to try a new way to raise funds for the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District?

There's a new way to raise money for Fairfield & Suisun public schools without raising taxes.  It can even benefit our Fairfield and Suisun students. They will get a broader international perspective on life, and chance to mix with students from families wealthy enough to send children to US schools from abroad.

The NY Times article discusses what Suisun and Fairfield public schools might learn from other schools that are charging tuition to rich foreigners looking to study in the US. Raising taxes need not be required here.

U.S. Corruption Level Increases Per Survey

The U.S. Government Corruption Level Increases Per Survey

New Zealand, Denmark and Singapore are viewed with having the world’s most honest governments. The international survey didn't cover specific US states, or regions like a Solano government corruption survey.

Government corruption is often more complicated than bribery.  It often involves favoring government contracts, or Solano grants within one's old boy network. Few will take the risks of being a whistle blower.

Luckily government corruption here is much better than say Mexican corruption.

Fairfield Government Employee Salaries Link

View the city of Fairfield's employee compensation package.  At least it's not like the city of Bell, California.

Fairfield Government Employee Salaries http://lgcr.sco.ca.gov/CompensationDetail.aspx

Should Gov Compete Against Private Business?

Fairfield city budget and Solano County budgets are in trouble.  Should they be spending money to compete against private services offering similar help?

The Solano Center For Business Innovation is a new organization being funded by different government agencies in Solano County.  Details on what they plan to do have not yet been made available to us yet per the Sunshine Act.

Solano Center For Business Innovation will be providing at least some of the services already being offered by the privately funded Solano Business Incubator at 707 434-8000, Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce, Vacaville Chamber of Commerce, and private business consultants who earn their living helping Solano small businesses grow and hire more employees. Other privately funded Solano small business assistance organizations watching to see what will come from Solano Center For Business Innovation include Innovation Institute, LLC and Solano Business Directory.

Solano Center For Business Innovation was started by Chuck Rieger.  It's located in the Solano Economic Development office in Suisun.

The hope is that a good synergy will be developed between Solano Center For Business Innovation and the privately funded Solano economic development organizations.

Bookmark this blog, or get RSS feeds for future Fix Fairfield updates.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Guess Where Do Most Growing Companies Locate In Solano County?

Did you know the Solano Business Incubator has more Solano small businesses, and Solano start up companies than any other Solano office building? Check out the bio on the Solano Business Incubator CEO.

Solano Business Incubator offers everything from free professional Solano conference rooms for non-profits, to Solano Virtual Offices TM from $75 a month. Other furnished Fairfield office suite rentals start at $375 month including everything A thru W (Air conditioning and coffee, to janitorial and receptionist, to telephone installation to Wireless) and more..!
 
Follow Steven Kays at:
Twitter: Twitter.com.StevenKays
FaceBook: FaceBook.com/StevenKaysFairfield

More employers means more new Solano job openings.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Should Fairfield Fund Creative Arts Center?

Fairfield is debating if they can cover costs for Fairfield's great Creative Arts Center.

There are private organizations that also offer conference room rentals. It's another case of government competing to offer what the private sector already is doing. The building offers conference room rentals, and has a great theater. The Spering family has kindly donated their money for the Missouri theater at their nice privately owned office building in downtown Fairfield for another theater. Still the Creative Arts Center is a nice place to have.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Does Fairfield Need Fixing? Join Us On Facebook.

Does Fairfield Need Fixing? The recent gun scene at Armijo High School is an example.

Share your passion for Fixing Fairfield. Join our FaceBook Group www.FaceBook.com/#!/group.php?gid=150504641635676

Solano Guides

Solano Business Promo Guides. New & Older Solano Links

Best of Solano - Solano Companies Serving Consumers: www.vallejoads.com/specials/2010_bestof/

Solano Home Guide - Buying, Etc: www.vallejoads.com/specials/2010_home/

Solano Medical Directory: www.fromthereporter.com/specials/2009_medicaldirectory/

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Cleaning Up Fairfield Requires Good Owner Or Property Manager

Key to cleaning up Fairfield is having good property managers. A good property owner, or Solano property management firm can often weed out Fairfield criminal types looking to rent space. The savvy owner or property manager knows the game. LLW Properties has been well commended by the Fairfield City Council for this fact.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Fairfield City Council Says Pot Proposition 19 Like Cheech & Chong

Fairfield City Council were 100% against Proposition 19.

Tonight the Fairfield City Councilwoman Cat Moy Compaired Pot Proposition 19 To Cheech & Chong.

"It looks like Cheech and Chong from the 1970s movie 'Up in Smoke' wrote this legislation,' Fairfield Councilwoman Catherine Moy claimed.

Fairfield Tourism Association Website

The Fairfield Tourism Association states their interactive website is a success. Funding comes from a special small Fairfield hotel, Fairfield motel occupancy tax.

Fairfield Tourism Association is on Twitter, Facebook and their website is www.Fairfield4Fun.com

Beth Javens, the exec director for the Fairfield Tourism Association said, “We are committed to engaging people to visit Fairfield and the Suisun Valley through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube and expanding accessibility to our Web site".

Fairfield Tourism Association (707) 761-9668

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Merging Fairfield & Suisun To Save City Money?

Merging Fairfield & Suisun

Interesting article on cities saving money by merging two or more cities. We don't expect it will happen with Fairfield & Suisun, yet it's an interesting read.

Flying overhead, Fairfield and Suisun are surrounded by the green belt and look like one city.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/16/BAKF1FTFVV.DTL&type=newsbayarea

Friday, October 15, 2010

Good & Bad Fairfield Property Owners

Property owners that can't keep their rentals in good condition, should be hiring a Fairfield property management company. If one doesn't know where to turn or is too busy to handle their Solano rentals, they should hire a new property manager in Solano.

Fairfield Small Business Resources - Free Or Affordable

Get free or cost effective help for your Fairfield small business from:

• SBDC (Solano Business Development Center)
• SED Corp (Solano Economic Development Corp)
• Fairfield - Suisun Chamber
• Solano Business Incubator
• California Business Center
• Innovation Institute, LLC

Just google their organizaton name and add "Solano".

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Fairfield Walmart Hurts & Helps In Fixing Fairfield

Suisun Gains 1 Walmart. Fairfield loses 1 Walmart and Gains A Bigger Walmart.

Former Fairfield City Council candidate Steven Kays explained that studies show Walmart puts many businesses out of business a few years after they move in - but Steven Kays explained this isn't always the case. More Fairfield business are expected to fail. Walmart might be the last nail in the coffin for many mom and pop Fairfield retailers.

New Suisun Walmart just got an important approval. Walmart will now mitigate for some watercourse before Suisun Walmart can start construction. Expect a 182,000-square-foot Suisun Walmart Supercenter by Walters Road Highway 12 in Suisun.

Suisun needs more tax revenue. The Fairfield Walmart by highway 12 and I-80 will close and move to Fairfield's North Texas Street.

The good news is the vacant shopping center on North Texas will come back to more life.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Controlled Fires - Fairfield & Suisun

Today, Oct 6th was the last day of control burns done in sections for sections of Fairfield's marshlands in Fairfield. This darkened our skies above Fairfield and Suisun City the past few days.

Suisun City Council Election Predictions

While Mike Segala raised more money, I bet mayor Peter Sanchez is re-elected, along with Suisun City Council woman Jane Day.

The 2nd city council seat will either be kept by Michael Hudson, or won by Jim Spering's son Don Spering - both are business people.

Economic development relies on people with business backgrounds. Mayor Pete Sanchez has a business degree, and Jane Day is a local business person. Mike Segala is an open-minded entrepreneur. I predict Suisun City will continue to improve in our less than perfect economy. All these candidates are friendly and really care for Suisun. Vote for your favorite Tue Nov 2nd.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Predict 2010 Suisun City Elections

I bet both mayor Peter Sanchez, and Councilwoman Jane Day will get re-elected. Mariko Yamada will win her re-election for state assembly, and John Garamendi will also win. Four years ago, I correctly predicted they would win. This time I'm not predicting who will win the other of the two Suisun Council seats coming up (I know who i want to win the seat). Absentee ballots were just mailed out.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Free Help If Your Friend Can't Afford Insurance - No Gimmicks

If friends can't afford any health insurance, get free card. Zero gimmicks. Solano County offers free card to save on drug costs. The county negotiated special pricing for those using this card. Get the card from the county, or email myself (Steven Kays) for the card at FixFairfield@Gmail.com. It may take a while. This is only for people who can't afford any insurance. Most people don't yet know about this. Most or all big Solano pharmacies accept the card. Tell your friends..!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

How know if it's a bad air day?

When the winds slow down in the summer, the Fairfield temperatures often rise. This combination often creates bad air days. So do less outdoors when you have the combination of warmer than usual summer weather, and little wind. The dynamics for cooler months is somewhat different - check back for details when it cools down here at http://FixFairfield.BlogSpot.com. Save yourself from Fairfield bad day airs.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Free Fairfield Youth Group Help

Fix Fairfield helps groups like Solano's Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Solano's Peace Jam. They enjoy free conference room facilities at Fairfield's California Business Center. Free consulting, and youth development library for new and growing youth groups. Call Steven Kays or Brandi Rodgers 707 434-8000.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Surprise Impacts From New I-80 Interchange?

What is really going to happen with the proposed changes to the highway I-80 interchanges with highways 680 and 12? Is trouble brewing ahead?

Have You Thought Of These Important Questions?

• Must central Fairfield become less accessible via the new highway ramp locations?
• Increasing driving time to downtown Fairfield from the highway ramps, means fewer diners and shoppers coming downtown. What effect will the new ramps have on reducing downtown spending?
• Revitalizing central Fairfield creates more jobs. The improved economic vitality of central Fairfield will increases the tax revenue. Without this expected tax revenue, will we have to further raise taxes?
• When will the expensive studies and great designs for revitalizing West Texas Street be openly shown in public meetings? Almost everyone believed it would revitalize Fairfield.
• Where did the monies set aside for revitalizing West Texas Street disappear to before the recession?
• The city promised to start revitalizing West Texas Street by 2000. Will the city set a new deadline? Will the businesses asked to invest in central Fairfield as part of the stalled program be compensated for the city not keeping its promise to fix the area?
• Will downtown businesses continue paying the extra downtown business tax, after the highways take away part of their customer base?

Can we be candid? Might this be resolved with team spirit? The majority agrees the I-80 interchange needs help. So let’s compromise; and stop backstabbing. We look forward to working together..!

Old Highway 80 Hurt Downtown Fairfield

I-80 took business away from our downtown. Back in the old days, traffic that went on highway 80, went through downtown Fairfield. Since 80 opened, the city has had to invest money into downtown to compensate for the loss of business. Highway 12’s improvements also effected downtown Fairfield in the later years. Downtown is the backbone for our community – let’s think smart growth and revitalize downtown Fairfield. Walnut Creek did a great revitalizing job.

Adding Traffic Lights Hurts Downtown

More traffic lights takes longer to get to downtown. Though Steven Kays argued against it, the city went ahead and put in a new traffic light at Winery Square and the new apartment complex. Steven Kays has asked the city about the second traffic added light when they change the off ramp from I-80 to downtown.

Fairfield Wine Capital

There is little difference in the temperatures between Napa, Sonoma and Solano. Fairfield could be made into a great household name for wines. That will boost local employment and house prices! We need to boost Fairfield's image.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Toler Wants Recall Election

Toler is now wanting to put together a recall election against Solano sheriff Stanton. Toler accuses the county of being too tough on him. Meanwhile, our protective services have more important things to worry about than these law suits. Toler is negatively effecting public perception of our protective services. The sheriffs and police put their lives on the line to protect us. Toler might try to forgive any rudeness he experienced dealing with the county, and move on with his life. Nobody is perfect. And that much anger isn't healthy.

Highway death rates

Based on recent highway death figures published at DailyRepublic.com, you have a 1% chance of getting killed if you put on 100,000 miles on ten different cars. Though it's gotten better, the death rate is still much too high. We must crack down more on Fairfield drunk drivers!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Spering & Seifert Fixing Solano Fairgrounds

Consider integrating the fairgrounds with a countywide business and tourism promotion package.

Solano county supervisors Jim Spering and Linda Seifert are overhauling our old fairgrounds. They are shaping the “Solano 360 – Listen, Inspire & Make It Real” program.

Solano County isn’t big enough for a gigantic promotion budget, but will gain better economy of scale when our seven Solano County cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville and Vallejo work together. Jim Spering and Linda Seifert are real team players.

The politics of innovation brings everyone together. This is better than the old way of being limited to small groups that might have narrow self-interest. Let’s be flexible and make everyone part of the team. As for myself, my Solano Business Incubator volunteers time and free conference rooms for helping create more jobs and is open to help the Solano Fairgrounds.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Free Conference Room For Non Profits

California Business Center can host a free conference room and coffee or tea for non-profits that wish to meet and share tips on how to operate and raise funds in a poor economy. Let's remember that non-profits reduce part of the burden of city government. As we don't want to raise taxes, non-profits need all the help they can get. Call a non-profit and offer to volunteer in any way you can. To reserve your free Solano conference room for the brainstorm session you wish to organize call 707 434-8000 or visit CaliforniaBusinessCenter.com for details. Prices normally are only $18 to $24 an hour. Let's all do our part..!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Camera Systems Issue Traffic Fines

The new bill at Sacramento would send more traffic ticket revenues to the state. Traffic fines are a great way to collect money. Some cities put up cameras all over the place. They let the computers send out bills for around $450 if you don't make a complete stop when taking a right hand turn at a red light. Fairfield, and the rest of our Solano County have fewer such cameras than many other California cities.

Wasting Tourism Promotion Budget

There are more economic ways to promote Fairfield as a tourist destination. We have interesting vineyards, Jelly Belly's and more. As I have been saying for many years, it is more cost effective to promote Solano County as a whole, than promote individual cities. With administration costs, volume discounts, and so forth, all the seven Solano County cities should unite their small tourism promotion budgets. We need more business people on the Fairfield City Council.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Is New Highway 80 - 12 Interchange Honest?

Solano Transportation Authority released new plans. Details at DailyRepublic.Com.

Past routing changes kept taking traffic away from downtown Fairfield. This hurt the heart of our economy. STA keeps failing to show they are again hurting central Fairfield, by diverting more people away. Do they want a ghost town? The 680 - 12 interchange fix is needed. Yet why are they sneaky?

Why didn't Fairfield keep their promise to upgrade the main gateway to downtown (West Texas Street) in 2000? They told businesses to come to West Texas Street as part of the redevelopment. Where did the monies for West Texas Street project disappear to ten years ago? Be candid.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Pot Legalization – Prop 19

Suisun City Council just decided to put the breaks on loosening up on marijuana laws. Fairfield and the rest of Solano have been tough on pot too.

Like it or not, I believe pot will eventually be legalized. The high tax revenue they talk about it generating seems unrealistic. Pot legalization will effect Solano County in more ways than one. People will grow the weed in their yard and avoid the high taxes. Kids will get their hands on it more easily too.

Barnes & Noble Staying Open?

With Amazon being so strong, I was surprised that Barnes & Noble even opened their bookstore in the first place. It's a great store that I hope stays. However business experts knew online purchases of books would continue to increase their market share long ago. By the way, they're open until at least 10PM Mon-Sat. Might close earlier on Sunday?

New Solar Power Near Main Gateway

One good piece of news. The ultra modern new facilities at Allan Witt Park will probably benefit from a new solar powered system that will pay for itself.

Improvements to the main gateway into Fairfield (West Texas Street), is economic development. A better gateway creates a good first impression when people visit the Solano County government and business capital. Economic development creates jobs. More jobs means a bigger tax base to avoid increasing taxes. Plus more jobs means less crime.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Garamendi's Fairfield Economy & Jobs Report

Fairfield's congressman John Garamendi just sent mailers to registered voters. (Fairfield is part of his district 10).

Some $1.5 Million was obtained to keep five Fairfield police officers, plus $10.5 Million for Travis, and $9 Million for the Fairfield-Suisun school district.

Garamendi's office is now in central Fairfield at 711 Jefferson St, #201, Fairfield, CA 94533. Is his office getting the most cost effective office suite in Fairfield, after calculating in overhead costs?

Let's hope Fairfield visitors will be more polite when Garamendi gives his next public appearance. Then we can discuss things rationally with less uncontrolled emotion.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Free Fairfield Conference Rooms

Get free Solano conference rooms for your professional meetings. (For profits pay a modest fee).

While the government tries to compete with the private sector in renting conference rooms, they charge much more than California Business Center. Plus CBC provides free coffee, tea, plus more. CBC rents conference rooms for up to around 15 people. The government conference room sizes vary and can hold hundreds.

Tell your friends that FixFairfield.Org offers free conference rooms to non-profits helping Fix Fairfield. To reserve one of the four conference rooms at CaliforniaBusinessCenter.com kindly call 707 427-6400 and ask for Brandi.

Instead of complaining, start taking action! Jot down a plan. Join forces with FixFairfield.Org. Rally your friends. Think positive. Set a meeting in the free Fairfield professional meeting rooms. And get started...!

Fairfield Youth Need Mentor Volunteers

• Fairfield's recreation services lack money. It seeks volunteers to work with the youth, seniors, etc.
• Also Peace Jam, plus Big Brothers Big Sisters need mentors for just an hour a week.
• Please contact FixFairfield.Org at 707 434-8000 for details.
• Many of today's children didn't have the fortune of getting great parents. Instead of complaining about today's crime problem, let's open our hearts and share our wisdom with Solano's youth..!

New North Texas Street Ramp & Interchange

Visitors to Fairfield businesses often take the wrong I-80 exit. My studies show visitors confuse West Texas Street exit with North Texas Street exit signs.

This makes people late for their appointment, and some just give up looking, don't spend money in Fairfield and drive back home. Solution is to tell visitors to take "North" or "West Texas", and specifically tell them not to take the other exit - otherwise many will take the first Texas Street exit they see. Everyone doesn’t use GPS. Actually GPS sometimes tells visitors to reach West Texas Street via the North Texas Street ramp.

Good driving directions creates more business, jobs and a bigger tax base without having to raise taxes.

Devotion

I've been working with Fairfield city staff and Solano County government since 1999. Most of them try very hard to do the right thing when politics doesn't get in the way. We inherited numerous problems, and the North Texas interchange fix was about doing what could best be done with limited resources, and space.

Visit www.FixFairfield.Org. Put this blog on your tool bar..!

Constructive Comments For Fixing Fairfield Wanted

We welcome your constructive comments to help Fix Fairfield. Remember to consider the costs for fixing things. Most voters don't want to raise taxes. Smart planning makes good sense. Kindly post your suggestions for fixing our Fairfield