Letters for June 14, 2012

Dog rescue DIY

Re “Frank’s wild year” by Cosmo Garvin (SN&R Bites, June 7):

I’m sorry Frank was not one of the animals who made it alive out of an animal shelter. But with 1,000 animals coming into the [City of Sacramento Animal Care Services] Front Street shelter every month, not all get placed for adoption.

Yes, this dog may have done well at your home for the short time you had it, but the shelter staff can’t take each animal home in order to evaluate it. They do the best they can with minimal staff, not enough money and too many animals.

Too bad you had to lie to your kids about the shelter not “killing dogs.” Everyone needs to know how many abandoned dogs there are in this city and how there are not enough homes for them all. Maybe instead of criticizing the shelter, the Bites family could volunteer at the shelter and help dogs get “forever homes.” They might also have rehomed Frank themselves, following this advice: If you want something done a certain way, just do it yourself.

Laura Warner
Sacramento

One-sided war

Re “Parking wars, again” by Nick Miller (SN&R Frontlines, June 7):

I object to SN&R saying “Midtown residents” want to extend residential parking hours. In this case, “Midtown residents” refers to [those quoted in the article]: Dale Kooyman, Vito Sgromo and Karen Jacques. The majority of Midtown residents are not pushing for change and certainly do not want more restricted parking hours.

The restricted-parking issue has been put to a vote in Midtown twice, and twice it has been soundly defeated. It’s time to move on to more important issues such as the homeless, loss of police and fireman, garbage pickup, etc.

I’m sure I will now be ridiculed by the above-mentioned people. After all, they brought Midtown from the “slum” it used to be to a “destination,” and therefore, they are the only ones who really know what is right for everyone else. Unfortunately, they don’t want it to be a destination anymore—which is why they want to discourage “outsiders” from visiting Midtown.

You can’t have it both ways, folks. People move to Midtown because they like city life and are willing to take the issues that come with it. Those who are unhappy might want to consider moving to the suburbs, where there is plenty of parking and few, if any, nighttime revelers.

Terry Reed
Sacramento

Just sayin’

Re “A Texas state of mind” by Rachel Leibrock (SN&R Popsmart, May 31):

If you dislike Texas so much, then stop going there. That’s the great thing about living in the United States.

By the way, you complain about Texans being a bunch of homophobic, intolerant, racist bigots, yet, you let your own hypocritical bigotry fall out of your purse by condemning them for the beliefs they hold. I suggest you look in the mirror before talking smack about other people and the views they hold on the world. Just sayin’.

M. Beasly
Sacramento

Just clarifying

Re “A Texas state of mind” by Rachel Leibrock (SN&R Popsmart, May 31):

I spent most of my formative years in West Africa, where we were taught the Queen’s English, and so my understanding of one who claims to be “progressive and generally accepting of people with ‘different’ lifestyles and beliefs” would mean such a person would accept not only gays, minorities and pro-choicers, but also those with pro-life convictions (damn them, those “inglourious basterds,” for supporting the dignity of all human life!), the “ultra-conservative,” the “ultra-religious,” the “religious zealots,” the homophobes, racists, Christians, Republicans, those with a “fanatical reliance on the bible to prove a point” and the “waitresses who regularly bless you on God’s behalf.”

My question, therefore, is this: Is my understanding flawed? Am I missing the boat, or did my teachers—God bless them—teach incorrectly?

Claire Obenson
Roseville

Just gets it

Re “A Texas state of mind” by Rachel Leibrock (SN&R Popsmart, May 31):

This column was so perfect and timely for me. I’m a native Northern Californian by choice, though technically I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. As a Navy brat, we moved on to California, Hawaii and back to California again over the years. Anyway, in May of 2008, I relocated to Austin, Texas, for four years, and now I’m back in Davis.

I appreciated this column so much, because it validated how I felt while living in Texas (even in liberal Austin and Travis County), and how I feel now that I’m back in NorCal. I was never really comfortable there, though I definitely appreciated all the things that are great about the great state of Texas. Basically, I felt the same way Leibrock described, and now that I’m back in Davis, I know that I wasn’t just being overly sensitive about things I heard, saw and experienced in central Texas.

I’m still dealing with the culture shock of being back on the West Coast, but I couldn’t be happier being back where I obviously belong! I’m letting go of my Texas state of mind because it really does not work here, and it feels good to release the confusion. It’s very difficult to explain to people these leftover coping mechanisms that are lingering from my time spent in Texas, and this column has helped me so much in telling the tale.

I, too, think Texas is a great place, but also feel it has quite a ways to go when it comes to tolerance, let alone outright acceptance of “others.” I’m really glad that I spent those four years in Austin, and I’m so grateful that I’ve returned to what feels like home, in so many ways.

If I’m the only person who was deeply affected by Leibrock’s words, I can honestly say that what she did for this one person has been huge.

Thank you. Muchas gracias!

Denise Leitzel
Davis

A last election thought …

Re “K.J.’s got no competition” (SN&R Letters, May 24):

After reading this letter about the lack of competition for Mayor Kevin Johnson, it’s easy to see why the mayor did not sign the agreement with other candidates to run a clean election.

James Sakauye
Sacramento

… or two

Re “No on 29” (SN&R Letters, May 24):

Letter writer Carl Schwarzott urges you to vote “no” on Proposition 29 because if it passes, the state could lose up to $750 million in sales taxes due to fewer people buying cigarettes.

Using this same line of logic, I would like to urge everyone to drink a quart of whiskey every day. That way we could help the state balance the budget.

Dave Zierten
Citrus Heights