Several letters to the Bee today, as in the past few weeks, have contrasted the spending of tax money on the arena versus for flood control.
Some excerpts.
Letters: Flood control and a new arena
Published 12:01 am PDT Thursday, August 31, 2006
1) Official priorities are backwards
The Bee had two important front- page headlines about our community on Aug. 27, "Arena adversaries prepare for battle" and "Can we handle a big flood?"
To me, levees are essential, and building another arena should take second seat. Why is it that our elected officials have this concept backward? I'd rather be taxed to protect our community from a flood than build another arena.
2) An arena for flood control
Re "Still awash in doubt," Aug. 28: Some politicians suggest that building an arena distracts from the more important issue of flood control. Reflecting on the first anniversary of Katrina, we need to acknowledge that it is not a question of whether Sacramento will be flooded, but a question of when and how badly. We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design the arena so that it can be rapidly converted into an emergency evacuation and treatment facility.
3) Increase sales tax for levees
Your flood articles have been very informative. Thank you. How about advocating an increased sales tax for increased levee protection? It makes better sense (cents) than another sports arena at this time.
