Here is a copy of a letter to the editor that went out today.
Take care.
David Lukenbill, President
American River Parkway Preservation Society
April 1, 2005
Letter to the Editor
Re: City, county look for ways to stop trashing of parkway: Attempts to stop camping by the homeless haven’t worked. March 31, 2005
The framing of the issue, by your writer and the people interviewed, reveal in stunning clarity why North Sacramento has almost given up on public leadership ever responding to this issue.
Comments like, “enforcement is not solving the problem”, “Where do we put them?” “People are going to be displaced from the Parkway” “They need housing”; all lead to the obvious conclusion that it is merely a housing problem and there is nothing that can be done.
Stopping illegally camping on the Parkway and restoring the community of North Sacramento’s right to enjoy their Parkway in safety can be done in a compassionate way. Helping restore the homeless to a productive way of life and modeling community respect for law-abiding behavior need not be mutually exclusive.
Other communities have found ways to deal with this problem in a compassionate way and we look forward to the day our public leaders arise from their long-slumbering denial on this issue by following their example.
Our Parkway is certainly no ‘crown jewel’ as long as this situation is allowed to continue.
Sincerely,
David H. Lukenbill, President
American River Parkway Preservation Society
