Jail project, saving salmon, legendary tailor
Jazzed by county jail project
Re “Jail inmates jazzed by free computers” (Insight, Jan. 19): Everyone with an interest in corrections, particularly elected politicians, should be jazzed by this surprising article. County jails are usually the backwater for innovative correctional program developments. The benefits of this project, which appear to be real, could easily be lost.
The project must be subject to objective evaluation and analysis, something the state stopped doing decades ago. Legislation should be passed now requiring the Board of State and Community Corrections to establish a program evaluation unit.
Its first assignment should be an evaluation of this computer project. If the claimed benefits of this project are verified, the concept could be spread throughout the entire statewide California correctional system. The savings and benefits could be immense.
Rich McKone, Lincoln
Do more than preserve salmon
Re “Geneticist takes key role in saving salmon” (Capitol & California, Jan. 17): While it may be necessary at this time to intervene and assist salmon breeding, this is not a sustainable solution for maintaining the population or genetic diversity.
By attempting to mimic nature, not preserve it, the problem is allowed to grow as the focus of the fight is on saving the salmon and not their environment. Human solutions to man-made problems in nature are generally less effective than just preventing the problem.
Megan Schouweiler, Sacramento
Wilkes Bashford was legendary
Re “The man who gave north state its style” (Insight, Jan. 21): Thank you, Shawn Hubler, for sharing some of the California history involving Wilkes Bashford. Twenty-five years ago, I too was in the men’s tailored clothing business, and though my store was located in Washington, D.C., I knew of the legendary man and his shop in San Francisco.
I was thrilled when on a business trip to Dallas, I was fortunate enough to meet him there while he was visiting my boss and his friend, the equally legendary Stanley Marcus. When I visited San Francisco for the first time in 2000, The Wilkes Bashford shop was on the top of my list of places to see. Bashford was a lovely and generous man and leaves behind an unforgettable legacy.
John Kraynak, Sacramento
EXTRA LETTERS ONLINE
Find them at:
sacbee.com/letters-to-the-editor
HOW TO SUBMIT
Online form (preferred):
www.sacbee.com/submit-letter
Other: Letters, P.O. Box 15779,
Sacramento, CA 95852
150-word limit. Include name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, brevity and content.
This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Jail project, saving salmon, legendary tailor."