Paul.Gullixson: June 2009 Archives

A couple of readers have correctly pointed out an error in my Sunday column about my trip to Iowa.

(To see it, click here) At the end, I noted that one of the messages on the wall in the basement was from my Uncle Roland - apparently left in 1934 - that read "Roly, age 14, Bode, IA. 50519"

That is what you call an anachronism as zip codes didn't go into effect until 1963. I went back and checked the video. The message actually reads "Roly, age 14, Bode, IA, P.O. Box 222."

I'm not sure how I messed that up. My notes include a mention of the silver Bode water tower near the public school. The tower reads "Bode, 50519." I must have somehow merged the two.

What's interesting is that I didn't know my father's address in Bode, which made it difficult to find his house. Before we went there, I looked for the street address among the family letters, but the only letters I could find simply said "The family of Oscar T. Gullixson, Bode, Iowa."

There was no need for an address, I guess. Everybody knew where they lived.

Anyway, thank you to the readers who pointed out the mistake.

- Paul

Here is the list state officials have released of the landmarks and government office buildings that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed selling to help California bridge its $24.3 billion deficit. Overall, the state expects to raise $3 billion off the sale of these properties. The sad part is that would barely makes up for just the growth in the projected budget deficit in the past few months. The gap has grown from $21 billion to $24 billion.

Landmarks:

1. San Quentin State Prison; Estimated value: $1 billion
Estimated time it will take to sell: To be determined

2. Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, San Diego County; Estimated value: $350 million to $650 million; Esimated time to sell: 24 to 60 months.

3. Orange County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa; Estimated value: $96 million to $180 million
Estimated time to sell: 24 to 60 months.

4. Cow Palace, Daly City; Estimated value: $40 million to $75 million; Estimated time to sell: 24 to 60 months.

5. California Exposition and State Fair, Sacramento; Estimated value: $80 million to $150 million; Time to sell: 24 to 60 months.

6. Ventura County Fair, Ventura; Estimated value: $37 million to $70 million
Time to sell: 24 to 60 months.

7. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena, Los Angeles; Estimated value: TBD
Time to sell: 24 to 36 months.

State office buildings:

1. California Department of Justice Building, Sacramento; Estimated value: $132.2 million.

2. California Office of Emergency Services, Sacramento; Estimated value: $33.6 million.

3. Capitol Area East End Complex, Sacramento (Five buildings that house the Department of Education, Department of Health Care Services and Department of Public Health.) Estimated value: $463.9 million.

4. Elihu M. Harris Building, Oakland; Estimated value: $166.7 million.

5. Franchise Tax Board Complex, Sacramento; Estimated value: $396.7 million.

6. San Francisco Civic Center (Earl Warren/Hiram Johnson
building), San Francisco; Estimated value: $357.6 million.

7. Junipero Serra State Building, Los Angeles; Estimated value: $76.4 million.

8. Justice Building, Sacramento; Estimated value: $34.1 million.

9. California Public Utilities Commission Building, San Francisco; Estimated value: $124.9 million.

10. Judge Joseph A. Rattigan Building, Santa Rosa; Estimated value: $7.8 million.

11. Ronald Reagan State Building, Los Angeles; Estimated value: $181.9 million.

To find out more about surplus state property, click here to go to the California State and Consumer Services Agency web site. 

- Paul Gullixson