Letters for October 28, 2004

A three-decade long mistake

Re “A desperate measure,” by Cosmo Garvin (SN&R Cover, October 21):

Measure A is a 30-year mistake for everyone who lives in Sacramento. Cosmo Garvin’s thorough piece shows why: More sprawl. Not enough money for healthy, sensible and sustainable forms of transportation. A flawed process.

We could have had a measure that met community goals. We could have had a measure that everyone agreed was the right thing to do. That’s not what Measure A turned out to be. Too bad.

Walt Seifert
executive director, Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates

Taking the measure of A

Re “A desperate measure” by Cosmo Garvin (SN&R Cover, October 21):

Measure A is not just opposed by the environmental community. The African American Transportation/Air Quality Advisory Committee opposes Measure A.

Measure A is the product of consultants’ polls of likely voters. (African-Americans and other ethnic groups’ input are not often solicited for polls, and we are not considered likely voters. African-Americans do vote, and we do care about local, state, national and international issues.)

[This measure] is not a product of community dialogue, visioning and planning. Every effort to provide voters with the information they need to examine, assess and evaluate the impact of transportation decision making on existing transportation services, our eroding air quality, land use, the availability of affordable housing, access to job opportunities and other issues has been steadfastly rejected.

Measure A fails to address the adverse impact that sprawl and more cars on our roads will have on already-eroded air quality and increased respiratory aliments. African-Americans represent 20 percent of the asthma cases in Sacramento, and African-American children are six times more likely to die from asthma than white children. The Sacramento region ranks in the top 10 of worst pollution for ozone and particulates.

Supporters of Measure A do not tell you that in order to fund these costly transportation expenditures, other projects important to older, more established areas were not funded (i.e., the upgrade of the Highway 99-Florin Road interchange serving the Florin /Meadowview communities). The proposed beltway that would connect through traffic to Interstate 5, Highway 99 and Highway 50 will discourage infill development and lead to increased sprawl and low-density housing that will further undermine the utility of public transportation.

Measure A will not relieve congestion or improve our unhealthy air quality in Sacramento.

C. Faye Kennedy
member, African American Transportation/Air Quality Advisory Committee

Kudos for Costello

Re “Ed Wood saves” by Becca Costello (SN&R Arts&culture, October 14):

Becca Costello’s article about the Ed Wood religion was wonderful. Over the years, I have read some mighty fine articles that deserved a positive response, but not like this one. I truly enjoyed Ms. Costello’s style—so well-written and so enjoyable. Many kudos to Ms. Costello. Keep it up.

James Alden
Sacramento

Call it East Texas

Re “This war hurts the world” (SN&R Guest Comment, October 14):

I’m shocked to read a creative-writing student from Davis writing in against our military actions in Iraq. Oh, wait—no, I’m not!

Kaelan Smith yammers endlessly about some refugees, or Janjaweed rebels or blah, blah, blah—who gives a rat’s ass?

Next, he takes right from John Kerry’s talking points: We must have an international coalition, global community … and you get the point.

Very simply, we are at war with Islamic radicals. It is not our way of life that stirs their hate; it is our very existence. The third world war was started on 9/11. To win this war, every last Islamic radical must be killed or, at the very least, have his power removed from him.

To do this, you do what we have started in Iraq: shove Democracy down their throats. Next you go to Iran, and every other sand-covered backward country there is. Plant an American flag there and call it East Texas, and they will get the message.

The desires of the international community are neither here nor there when defending America, and President George W. Bush understands this. Instead of saying we need permission to win this war, we should be demanding the Europeans start doing their part. As usual, they are going to let us take care of business for them, and more American boys will have to die to make our world safe.

Kurt Mathews
via e-mail

Go channel surfing!

Re “Moonies hold KOVR hostage” (SN&R Bites, October 14):

In regards to your liberal biased article, I laugh at the author’s dramatic statements.

For the author to say that we will be “force-fed a bit of anti-John Kerry propaganda” is like saying I am “force-fed” Kaelan Smith’s article [“This war hurts the world,” SN&R Guest Comment, October 14] bashing our president on his decision to keep our troops in Iraq.

It’s funny how Democrats are OK with all the media bashing our president, but as soon as they see or hear something they don’t agree with, then suddenly they are being unfairly forced to view it. All I can say to those who don’t want to see the airing of Stolen Honor is: Change the channel. I do it all the time, but I guess I’ve grown accustomed to hearing views I don’t agree with. I don’t ever feel like someone can force me to watch anything. We live in America, where one can say what they want and listen to what they want.

Stacia George
via e-mail

Nothing ‘hot’ about killing women

Re “Scott is hot!” by Harmon Leon (SN&R Cover, October 7):

I would like to ask writers and especially the editors at SN&R to consider both the emotional impact and the social effect of writing about men who kill women.

My concern is specifically oriented at the sidebar article, “Women who love murderers too much.” Whether or not SN&R may want to expose criminals and their followers and bring this social ill into perspective, the act of writing about it only serves to get people fascinated by the issue, and not at all interested in social change. The outcome of the sidebar is a sensationalist reaction that serves only to keep people reading SN&R, cemented by the misleading front headline, “Scott is hot!”

I write this as the daughter of a woman who was murdered by a serial killer. This serial killer has killed more women than any other to date in American history: Gary Ridgway. Ridgway’s name should be known. He is called the “Green River Killer,” and he did his killing in the Seattle area from 1982 until recently.

His name should be in SN&R, if discussed at all, in order to foster some kind of progress in the attempt to reduce violence against women. Men who kill women should not get any other attention in the media.

Nova Reeves
Sacramento

Ask a scientist!

Re “Best drip” (SN&R Best of Sacramento, Writers’ choice; September 30):

The item that names Fuel Espresso and Drip Bar as Sacramento’s “Best drip” begins with a pair of sentences that say both caffeine and cocaine are amphetamines.

While it’s true that caffeine and coke act as stimulants, as do amphetamines, and while it may be true that all three are addictive to varying degrees, it’s as wrong to say that caffeine and cocaine are amphetamines as it would be to say that caffeine is cocaine. You’re trying to attract an educated readership, right? So, don’t treat us as ignorant—check those facts. Ask a scientist if you must!

That said, I agree that Fuel Espresso and Drip Bar is an excellent place to get your caffeine. I go there at least two or three times a week. It was a great choice for a Best of Sacramento award.

And please, please keep publishing Kate Washington’s Dish columns! I love her food reviews; they’re entertaining and intelligent, and she’s opened my eyes to some delicious food. So many restaurants have opened in the past year that I can’t keep track of them all (a wonderful dilemma to have), and Kate’s reviews help me prioritize. I just tried Crepeville, which she reviewed several weeks ago [“Suit your fancy,” SN&R Dish September 16], and I loved it. I plan to head for the Barbary Coast Savannah BBQ [“Take your ’cue,” SN&R Dish, October 7] soon.

Sheryl Beauvais
Sacramento