Letters for December 12, 2013

‘Sex work’ never black and white

Re “Desperately seeking justice” by Raheem F. Hosseini and Scott Thomas Anderson (SN&R Feature Story, December 5):

I get it—ironic title, hip writing, reveal a perp, reveal a victim, make a point, feel good about your selectively moral stance, move on. On a general, generic human level, of course, compassion and justice is in order for anyone getting beat up or raped. However, isn't the illegality of “sex work” a valid point? What if a bookie gets assaulted trying to collect an illegal debt? What if a robber gets assaulted by his partner in crime? Do such individuals also justly lay claim to compassion and compensation for bad things that occurred to them in the carrying out of their illegal deeds? If Savannah had not been attacked, could she have ever been arrested for her “sex work”? Is it ever so black and white?

Tom Rupp

via email

Almonds, you say

Re “25 objects that define Sacramento” (SN&R Feature Story, November 27):

Shouldn’t your list include almonds, since the world’s largest almond-processing plant has been operating for over 100 years with its home office and main plant on 18th and C streets?

Jay Sessions

Rocklin

Stop whining about McKinley Village

Re “Here comes the (newest Sacramento) neighborhood” by Nick Miller (SN&R News, November 27):

Oh, come on, the neighborhood associations are sure sounding a lot like the “not in my backyard” crowd. Regardless of where in the city infill occurs, as city residents, we are all impacted by thoughtless, short-term planning. Unless we aren’t getting the full story, this sounds like a housing-only infill project. Isn’t the prevailing environmental and socially conscious stand currently pro-infill and anti-sprawl? In Curtis Park, we’ve had to swallow deforestation, traffic from hell, a city crew that deems everything “not significant,” and commercial retail as well as low-income housing. While I agree that we need to be active watchdogs on these infill projects in which the city puts a price tag on everything, smart infill is the way to go.

H. Egan

via email

McKinley Village bad

Re “Here comes the (newest Sacramento) neighborhood” by Nick Miller (SN&R News, November 27):

The problem with developing the McKinley Village parcel has always been poor access. It is a piece of land that was created 59 years ago, before thoughtful planners were around. It currently has only one access point, which is a utility bridge crossing Business 80. Phil Angelides’ solution is to only go with two access points, one at A Street and another at 40th Street. This project needs a third access point at Alhambra Boulevard, which is close to schools, grocery stores, businesses, freeways and other food options. If were going to do this project, let’s do it right!

Michael Murphy

Sacramento

Barnes no Pauline Kael

Re “Flippin’ the bird” by Daniel Barnes and Jim Lane (SN&R Arts&Culture, November 27):

As a true cinephile and Hollywood hater, I excitedly flipped to see what those big-money producers foisted on the public this past year. I scanned the titles of movies I’d rightfully never heard of, only to come upon World War Z? Really? Clearly, Daniel Barnes had his 10-gallon holier-than-thou hat on for that one. Yet his review was more threadbare than any of the plots he wrote about. His line, “Brad Pitt pouts and broods … for unknown reasons” is a cop out. So-and-so “brooding” has become movie reviewer code for “I can’t think of anything legitimate to write.” I agree that the ending is clearly set for sequel, lending to its ambiguity and anticlimax. But, as a whole, Z is entertaining and far too fast-paced for any “brooding.” … But his strangest comment by far was “awful special effects.” No unbiased viewer would agree with that. The movie must’ve used hundreds of extras, combined with CGI, to produce the greatest mass-humanity chase scenes you’ve ever seen. In fact, it is these displays which keep Z from being just another run-of-the-mill zombie-chase flick. Z is no M, but Barnes is no Pauline Kael, either.

Chris Ewing

Carmichael