Letters for February 6, 2020

Re: “Closing time” by Chris Macias (Feature, Jan. 23):

Why are so many Sac restaurants shutting down? The same reason so many retailers and many other businesses are shutting down, the same reason we’re seeing more homeless people—inflation. At the same time the property owners planned to double Jim-Denny’s rent, landlords were increasing apartment rents by more than 50%. That means potential customers have very little discretionary money.

I’ve watched all these businesses close and nobody moves in to take their place. They remain vacant for years. So now instead of getting whatever rent they were getting, the insatiably greedy landlords are getting zero. You simply cannot correct inflation by having more inflation any more than you can cure being overweight by having another pizza.

George Selkirk

Sacramento / via email

Not so golden

Re: “Closing time” by Chris Macias (Feature, Jan. 23):

How ironic that this “trend” started when we rushed in a new shiny arena and all of us were told that this bold move would usher in a new era for local businesses. They were right. Oh well, at least we still have a shiny new arena.

Victor Morales

Sacramento / via email

Still open

Re: “Closing time” by Chris Macias (Feature, Jan. 23):

With all the names of all the restaurants that have recently closed in Sacramento, there’s another restaurant’s name that stands out, that being Tapa The World at 21st & J—in business for 25 years and counting.

William Hughes

Sacramento / via email

Criticism isn’t hatred

Re: “A display of hate” by Reuven H. Taff (Essay, Jan. 23):

Once again, statements questioning Israel’s brutal treatment of the Palestinians and the confiscation of their land are being incorrectly interpreted as being anti-Semitic. All too often, the biased person confuses criticism of a government with hatred for a people.

Dori Eller

Carmichael / via SN&R Extra

Israeli oppression

Re: “A display of hate” by Reuven H. Taff (Essay, Jan. 23):

I wonder if the author has been to Bethlehem and actually spent time with its Palestinian residents. If he did, and honestly listened, he would learn that the Palestinians of Bethlehem have suffered land confiscation and severe oppression via the Israeli military for years. Land that was Palestinian for thousands of years has been brutally seized by the Israeli government, and freedom of movement of Palestinians severely restricted.

It would be like a foreign military marching into Sacramento with tanks and arms, building walls blocking Folsom and Stockton boulevards, prohibiting us to cross those walls to do our normal business and then declaring most of our land to be theirs, forcing thousands more to become homeless and without means to work. Please interview the members of Bethlehem Sister City and publish a corrective article! It’s not anti-Semitic; it’s anti-Israeli government to criticize Israeli oppression.

Robin Kristufek

Sacramento / via email