Public libraries help make America great
In praise of public libraries
Re “Northern California’s coolest libraries draw visitors even in the digital age” (sacbee.com, March 10): Last Saturday, as we drove away from the Carmichael Public Library, my husband remarked about all the cars in the parking lot and people using the library. As I hugged my two newly checked out treasures, I smiled and agreed that it was a wonderful sight.
The next morning, I opened The Sacramento Bee to a great article about libraries around the Sacramento area. I loved the photo of Jose of Woodland relaxing with his book at the library. Even in our digital age, we still want to savor the feel of the book in our hands, to sit quietly in a room full of people all doing what we're doing.
We are blessed by having this privilege of reading what we want and also watching our children discover the joy of books. And guess what? It's a free service. Well, we won't talk about property taxes. Everyone should take advantage of these wonderful libraries. There is diversity for everyone there. America is already the greatest.
Fern Viega, Carmichael
Parking cops do their jobs
Re “Parking cops are too efficient” (Letters, March, 11): Letter writer Richard Vidan admits that he violated the law by parking at a white passenger-loading curb. Vidan says he was trying to support businesses in downtown Sacramento, and the city found a way to "mess" with him. A parking control checker, doing his job, issued a citation. Don't you hate it when people do their jobs?
Craig Shuey, Lincoln
Parking costs drive people off
My wife and I are long-time Sacramento residents, love our city, and are ticket-holders of a theater near downtown. We usually go out to dinner before the show.
As parking spaces get harder to find and more expensive, we are avoiding downtown and mid-town restaurants. There are plenty of good restaurants in our neighborhood and other areas of Sacramento with convenient and free parking.
Going to the convention center or Golden One Center is less desirable as parking gets more difficult and expensive. Making parking more inconvenient and expensive is counter productive towards the goal of downtown revitalization.
Brian Bennere, Sacramento
Ron Lawrence is a great chief
Re “Citrus Heights has top rate of fatal shootings by police” (Page 1A, March 12): Fatal shootings are always a tragedy. But Citrus Heights is not Fair Oaks or Rocklin. It's demographics are different. The hope? A new police chief. Ron Lawrence is easily the best police chief in California. We in Rocklin were sad to see him go. But he will do great things in Citrus Heights.
Roger S. Peterson, Rocklin
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This story was originally published March 17, 2017 at 9:27 AM with the headline "Public libraries help make America great."