Letters for January 18, 2018

Just say yes

Re “Housing policy for dummies” by Jeff vonKaenel (Greenlight, January 11):

You’ve admirably addressed the “build” part of the housing solution, but you seem to give short shrift to the vital “sustainability” part. Do we need to think sustainability in solutions to the housing problems? Yes. Do we need to teach sustainability from an early age? Yes. Do we need to point out the physical impossibility of continued housing growth? Yes. Do we need to point out the desirability and feasibility of stabilizing housing? Yes. Do we need to support the work of Planned Parenthood and Population Connection? Yes. Do we need to provide voluntary family planning education? Yes. Do we need to provide tax incentives and education to encourage families to have fewer children? Yes. Do we need to be aware that we are endangering our children’s futures by not reining in building growth? Yes. Do we need to recognize continued population growth as a primary driver behind ecological and societal threats? Yes.

Evan Jones

Sacramento

via sactoletters@newsreview.com

Get some experience

Re “The zen of District 7” by Scott Thomas Anderson (News, January 11):

[Tristan Brown] seems like a nice, smart, young lobbyist who really wants to be a politician. As part of a team of Bernie Democrats running for a variety of offices, he will raise some great ideas and have some of his own on a variety of subjects. But his notion that, “We’re both applying for the same job … ” has nothing to do with the context of elections and is a cliché. It’s easy to make promises. In fact, the art of making promises is taught in politician school. That’s why I look for a candidate with a proven record of performance, not someone who makes promises. To gain support, Brown must make a compelling case for why the current councilmember should be replaced. Brown provides no substance, only vague notions against “the Council.” I appreciate that he is smart, involved and energetic. Hopefully, he will gain experience by actually getting things done, volunteering, making a difference, learning humility. I wish him luck in his ongoing endeavors.

Phil Giarrizzo

Sacramento

via newsreview.com

Departmental bamboozlement

July 2017, sprinkler main broke. Water consumption hit the ceiling. Received account summary today and noted return to baseline. Five months later? Based on the fact that the Sacramento city water meter fails to immediately return the reading to where it should be. Are there others who’ve had this lazy, inaccurate water-meter consumption history condition? On November 11, I met Gabriel from the city water department, who was unable to explain why my reported water use is still high. Last year, I retired as a field investigator and technical advisor, and I know when I’m being bamboozled. Confident this post won’t be up too long.

Marvin Dudley Reed Jr.

Sacramento

via newsreview.com

Stoned and paranoid

Re “Can they tell I’m high?” by Ngaio Bealum (The 420, January 11):

LOL! Love No. 3, can’t help but laugh because I’ve been there, viewing AND being viewed. What you write is gospel and, what’s more, there exists a very old videotape of me hosting a television show, early in my career, that today would rank in the YouTube viewership stratosphere and nicely illustrates your point. Thanks, a fan of the column—you communicate in plain English without brandishing an agenda. Rare.

Mark Williams

Sacramento

via newsreview.com