Walk of Fame, Bicycles, Climate change, Water, Parkway

Heroes should be first to get stars

Re “If stars align, Sacramento will sport a walk of fame” (Page 1A, Aug. 25): I heard that Sacramento is planning to have a sidewalk of “local” folks who have done more than their share.

I suggest that the three brave guys who thwarted the recent attack on the French train be the first.

What a great example they are. They are truly heroes.

Sacramento not so bad for bicycles

Re “Sacramento’s opportunity to improve cycling” (Editorials, Aug. 22). The Bee’s editorial board suggests the city has been sitting on its hands and is ranked poorly in bicycle friendliness. Neither is true.

The city has made many improvements including added bike lanes and bike/pedestrian bridges. The bike master plan has been updated several times since it was first written.

Sacramento is not next to last in the League of American Bicyclists’ bike-friendly ranking scheme. In fact, only 25 communities have a higher ranking than Sacramento’s silver award level.

Yes, the city can do better. But paying a consultant to develop a new bike plan won’t necessarily get us to the promised land.

California leads on climate change

Re “How could carbon cut impact us?” (Insight, Aug. 25): Columnist Dan Walters asks the wrong question. He should be asking how would a failure to act impact us.

For a number of years, scientists have detailed the impacts of climate change. We have been told to expect rising temperatures and more frequent and intense droughts, wildfires and flooding. California is already experiencing the first three impacts, and if a strong El Niño leads to heavy rains, we can expect intense flooding. Without action to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse-gas emissions, all of these impacts can be expected to markedly worsen in California’s future.

Parkway needs to be protected

Re “Lawsuit can’t get in way of safety on parkway” (Another View, Aug. 25): Our organization agrees with Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna on the need to revisit the legal settlement that has virtually created a tent city in the American River Parkway.

We have reports of large-scale camping that has overwhelmed the ability of the parkway rangers to control, which the settlement mandate that unoccupied camps have to be given 48 hours notice of removal has created.

Outrage doesn’t solve any problems

County Supervisor Phil Serna and Bee columnist Marcos Breton are outraged by the fires from illegal camping on the parkway. But they do not offer any solutions.

You cannot just say to homeless people, “Don’t be homeless!” and then expect results.

They have to be somewhere. So either somehow eliminate homelessness (hard to do) or else designate a safe-ground place for them to camp where we can make sure there is no fire hazard.

It would be wise to also provide access to health care, mental-health care, drug counseling and job counseling. Also provide trash service, toilets, showers and laundering facilities, thereby giving homeless people a chance to escape their situation.

Most don’t care about Kings

Re “Kings’ new home is taking shape” (Sports, Aug. 23): Ailene Voisin and her colleagues believe that without the Kings, Sacramento would be a sleepy, little cowtown not worthy as a place to live or work.

I suppose that viewpoint is not surprising coming from a sports department.

For the number of city residents who don’t care about the Kings (which is why this was insulated from any vote), we would happily have survived their departure had not the mayor and political establishment conspired with Westfield to allow it to drive Downtown Plaza into the ground.

So at this point, we have no choice but to share Voisin’s rose-glassed sentiments, given that financial ruin for the city is the alternative.

The remainder of us enjoying downtown’s other offerings get permanently pricey parking.

This story was originally published August 25, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Walk of Fame, Bicycles, Climate change, Water, Parkway."