Letters for April 10, 2014

Everybody reallyhates ‘McVillage’?

Re “It takes a ‘McVillage’” by Nick Miller (SN&R News, April 3):

If anybody in Midtown thinks this monument to ticky-tacky, high-density, congested urban sprawl and air fouling is a good idea, I haven't met them. All of us anywhere near this proposed monstrosity are completely against it. And who needs it, anyway? There is plenty of housing already available. Speculative investors again? That's the last thing we need more of around here.

Mary Ann Martorana

Sacramento

Bogus gun law

Re “Limit concealed weapons” (SN&R Editorial, April 3):

If you are so independent, why are you endorsing a bogus gun-control measure? You are attempting to stifle the Second Amendment. Guns don’t hurt others, stupid people like you do!

John Bauer

Elk Grove

Firefighters not overpaid

Re “Big-time payday” by SN&R staff (SN&R Scorekeeper, March 27):

The city is planning to spend upward of $900 million in public resources to subsidize the NBA Welfare Kings. The average salary of an NBA player is $5 million a year, for seasonal work. DeMarcus Cousins, about whom I’ve heard nothing good, gets $15.5 million a year for seasonal work. To my knowledge, no Kings player has risked his ass pulling someone else’s out of a fire or has otherwise saved a life. Is the average Kings player really worth 50 first responders? Is Cousins worth over 150 first responders? Not for my money.

Jan Bergeron

Sacramento

Help first-generation college hopefuls

Re “Next affirmative action” (SN&R Editorial, March 27):

I agree wholeheartedly with this editorial. There are plenty of scholarship opportunities out there for first-generation kids to go to college. But we have to help before they get to that point. That’s why, as an educator working with youth every day, I founded a nonprofit organization called The Wish List Project. Funding educational enrichment, extracurricular activities and leadership-development programs for at-risk youth is critical to building self-confidence, providing positive role models and keeping them in school. Providing these opportunities to kids who don’t have the resources at home shows them that the path to college is possible.

Sheila Hull-Summers

Citrus Heights

Yelp freebies a turnoff

Re “The Yelp factor” by Nick Miller (SN&R Feature Story, March 20):

As an ex-Elite Yelper, I can attest that many restaurants offer free food as a mea culpa for a bad or mediocre review. I have had a handful actually beg me to come back. Simply because they did offer me food, I didn’t. I find it highly unethical, and I am saddened that other Elites take advantage.

Melissa Sullivan

Sacramento