Keep Capitol Mall green

Re "Lively visions of Paris emerge" (Page A1, Dec. 27): What? Tear out the planted center strip of the Capitol Mall and replace it with asphalt? Widen the sidewalks with more concrete? Why try to create another shopping street on the mall when we are having such a difficult time trying to do this on nearby K Street?

Yes, this entrance to the city needs enhancing. The center strip should be lushly landscaped, perhaps widened. Keeping low enough to preserve the view of the Statehouse, it could have shrubs, perennial plants, ground covers, fountains and lots of flowers.

A curved walking path might be included. The mall, with its signature view of the Capitol, should maintain its quiet dignity as a government center and a unique neighborhood in Sacramento.

- Francine Moskovitz, Sacramento

Roseville got its wish

Re "Roseville pins nightlife hopes on downtown" (Our Region, Dec. 29): I came to the area more than 10 years ago from the Bay Area and was hoping the city would make downtown look like downtown Mountain View, a model for other cities nationwide. Roseville had the same opportunity as Mountain View, but the mayor imposed unreasonable regulations and rules on businesses wanting to open in downtown Roseville, thus forcing businesses to move to Douglas Boulevard. The city blew its opportunity to revitalize downtown 10 years ago because of old-fashioned thinking.

Now the city wants more than $160 million to revitalize. For what? You want fine food and drink? Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Mc- Cormick and Schmicks, etc. Want fine clothing? Look no further than the Galleria or the Fountains. Hairstylists? Galleria area or Douglas Boulevard.

Government buildings (not open at night) and bars? Get the street cleaners out!

Roseville City Council, you didn't want downtown to be like another Bay Area city, so it is not; it is what you wanted it to be. Ray Phipps says, "It used to be that you would see junk cars and panhandlers there. Now you see Hummers and business suits."

Yes, you see Hummers and suits, but they are driving through town, not to town.

- Mike Garcia, Roseville

The governor and climate change

Re "Governor keeps the pressure on" (Page A1, Dec. 24): Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to be seen as a champion of combating climate change.

Is he? He is not willing to champion the foresightful and necessary climate change actions that Sacramento neighborhood and community organizations have taken on recently.

We have won a court decision compelling Caltrans to do two important things for our region's future, our climate and for transportation: Analyze climate change impacts of widening Highway 50 and analyze a transit project alternative for relieving traffic congestion along Highway 50. Very sensible.

The governor wants to give Caltrans a pass by exempting the Highway 50 widening project from environmental review and hiding that in the new state budget bill. That means the public will lose an important opportunity to help steer our region's transportation in a greener direction and keep driving our cars over the long term. How many times can you widen a freeway? How many cars will fit into our neighborhoods and streets? The time is now to stimulate our economy and our transportation decision- makers into the future. If the governor gets this exemption, he will trample local citizen efforts to change the end of a dire story and bring opportunity for a brighter transportation and human future.

- Glenda Marsh, Sacramento chair, Neighbors Advocating Sustainable Transportation

Equal-opportunity protests

Did I miss something about worldwide protests over the 14 girls in Afghanistan who were killed by an SUV packed with explosives? Perhaps I didn't really miss a report about the protests. Perhaps there were none. Why? Is it politically wrong to say anything about Muslims killing Muslims? Is it only a problem when non-Muslims do the killing? Especially Jews.

There doesn't seem to be any protests about the killing of civilians in Iraq or Afghanistan. Is this because of the same reasoning? Does this mean that protests against Israel's actions in Gaza are the only protests that are acceptable?