Letters for July 26, 2018

Re: “A Dark Development” by Scott Thomas Anderson (Feature, July 20):

Scott Thomas Anderson presents a moving statement about the Folsom Ranch development(s) and the arguments presented in opposition to this project. The article is well researched and documented. The issue of Folsom Ranch however is not about the greed of the developers (obvious) or the agent they hire to promote the venture. Such a project would only be assumed if the investors were confident that the result would be a successful sale of the homes to buyers willing to pay the price of the lifestyle offered.

The ultimate responsibility for the impact (positive/negative, on the infrastructure, environment or tax benefits to the community) is with those who purchase the end product. The reality is, the movie line applies: “If you build it they will come.”

Bob Losik

Fair Oaks

via sactoletters@newsreview.com

Make Marshall public again

Re “Leveraging history” by Eric Johnson (News, July 20):

With regard to the Marshall School build, the community did try before when the Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association was formed around 1992 or so. But what I find ridiculous is all these Sac “historians” ruing the loss of local redevelopment funds to the governor’s office some years back, when the reality is that such funds were operated like an open cash drawer for very corrupt developers. Public funds should be used for public purposes, especially for those most in need, and today that population is comprised of those who are losing their homes to the efforts of the sitting city council due to government efforts to place the poor in what are otherwise comparative to concentration camps, aka “shelters.” I would love to see the Marshall School brought back to life—as a real community center.

Alex Berg

Sacramento

via sactoletters@newsreview.com

Cyclists should pay

The city is going to spend $1 million of revenue generated by California gas taxes to create a parking-protected bicycle lane on J Street from 19th to 30th streets. That’s an amazing cost of $237 per linear foot of that bicycle lane. I feel that bicyclists need to pay their fair share of the cost. They should be required to be licensed and bicycles registered in order to help pay for the bicycle lanes. This would also assist the police in the return of stolen bicycles to their owners, and with the conviction of the thieves who stole them.

Walt Lowery

Sacramento

via sactoletters@newsreview.com

Bring back railroad days

Re “The $10 million trail” by Eric Johnson (News, July 5):

In order for Sacramento to be a world class city, it must have good surface transportation links to help maintain culture and economic links to other like areas. The Del Rio trail/rail line, previously known as the Holland Branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad, is that connection of a golden opportunity to do better in many ways than the Intercity 80 rail corridor.

By rebuilding and enlarging to two tracks plus a bicycle trail much akin to the SMART in Marin and Sonoma counties, you could connect BART DMU service to Oakley, Brentwood and Discovery Bay, whose service starts next year.

The Holland branch of S.P. connected to Isleton, and at one time was projected to extend to Lodi. Put that rail line back but go further south, then tube underneath the Sacramento River to surface at Oakley and the BART system with passenger leads to all major airports, CAL Train, Ace, Muni and ferries throughout the Bay.

Alfred P. Bulf

Nevada City

via U.S. Mail