Letters for March 17, 2016

Stop biking like it’s 1995

Re “Ten things the next mayor of Sacramento absolutely needs to accomplish” by Nick Miller (SN&R Feature Story, March 10):

I was glad to see you give some of your column inches and attention to alternative transportation options. However, I’m always struck by how much people think that the issue is a matter of one project here or one project there. Let’s quit playing Sim Bike Lane and start investing in transportation staff and dedicated funding to build out a connected network of great streets. Let’s finally get rid of the 1995 bike master plan (still in effect!) and develop a vision of the kind of network we want to build and how we get there.

Advocates and electeds have a myopic focus on projects. As a result, the way bike projects are prioritized, funded, and built out is extremely ad hoc and usually council-office driven. I think everyone on council at least in some way is on board with bikes, but are they willing to give up the “I get to choose one project a year” status quo? I think that’d make Sacramento great.

Matt Read

Sacramento

No City Hall secrets

Re “Ten things the next mayor of Sacramento absolutely needs to accomplish” by Nick Miller (SN&R Feature Story, March 10):

I like your suggestions for the next mayor, but would like to add one of my own, which is closely related to yours regarding more sunshine at City Hall. I would also like to suggest a couple of things the next mayor should definitely not do.

Not only should city employees not be using city email for anything other than public work, they should also never perform anything but public work while on the clock. The next mayor should specifically ensure no one in his or her office is working on personal projects—including the mayor’s own pet projects.

The next mayor should not sue the city or a local newspaper in order to prevent the public from knowing how business is done in City Hall. Doing so only ensures we wonder what the mayor has to hide.

Miles D. Wichelns

Sacramento

On bikes and crime

Re “Ten things the next mayor of Sacramento absolutely needs to accomplish” by Nick Miller (SN&R Feature Story, March 10):

We live in rural southern Oregon, and this is our second year of choosing Sacramento for a three-week winter getaway. One of our reasons for choosing Sacramento is the American River bike way. We agree with the need for better access, and we are frustrated by construction that has lasted over a year. None of your top 10 mentioned crime directly, but we are shocked by Sacramento’s high crime statistics. Drastic reduction would surely be a worthy goal.

Kathy and Stan Vejtasa

Roseburg, Oregon