Letters for May 15, 2014

Don’t restrict info at Roseville libraries

Re “Banned in Roseville” by Nick Miller (SN&R Editor’s Note, May 8):

It sounds like to me that the city of Roseville is not thinking the problem through and taking the easy way out. Why not just set up a designated area for the display of free materials? Since it is in the public interest, it is not for the city to restrict the distribution of the material unless they poll all the users of the library and post the results publicly. This is the democratic way. And the last time I looked, we live in a democracy!

Brian Stearns

Roseville

Let people give to panhandlers

Re “Begging to get locked up” by Raheem F. Hosseini (SN&R News, May 1):

This is a disgrace! It would be one thing if they were just going to crackdown on aggressive soliciting, but they’ve already acknowledged that they will be busting the chops of any and all panhandlers.

I don’t understand why it is that people are so put off by people asking them for money. We all have the right to say no, so why shouldn’t we in our fine purple linens also have the privilege of saying yes? “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

DeAun Tollefson

Sacramento

Restaurants fail because we overbuilt

Re “Why restaurants close” by Rick Kushman (SN&R Feature Story, May 1):

This story focused mostly on the niche market in downtown, but very little to the rest of the community. Randy Paragary touched on it when he said that the communities are overbuilt.

Another word for “overbuilt” is “vacant.” With 70 percent of economy nationwide labeled consumer, we have left a large portion of our population without disposable income, which is money that most often goes to restaurants. McDonald’s and In-N-Out Burger are thriving. We do not need more bowling alleys, movie houses and sports teams, but we do need to focus on finding work that brings money into the community.

The train company suggested a maintenance yard that the city fathers put down. With banks unwilling to lend, where is the leadership to develop financing (not giveaways) for local entrepreneurs to get started. We have people. We have schools. We have transportation. We have space and buildings. These can all be fine-tuned to meet the business needs. What we lack is leadership to make it happen. If this was happening, our commercial spaces would be filled and vibrant.

Charles Donaldson

Sacramento

Need to spread social services throughout city

Re “Build Safe Ground” (SN&R Editorial, April 3):

Most of us in north Sacramento are outraged that so many would immediately think that our area is the place to build the Safe Ground Sacramento project. We have more than done our part in being the go-to spot for siting social-service entities. Why aren’t other areas of the city doing their part? We all know the homeless need this project, but what about Land Park, East Sacramento, Natomas? Or let’s challenge the cheerleaders for the downtown arena, including Councilman Allen Warren, and make this project part of the package of the huge building projects that they are convinced will now take place with the approval of the massive arena subsidy. I dare anyone to make this suggestion.

Karen Solberg

Sacramento