Sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for because you get it and unforeseen issues like this one arise.
Editorial: Collaboration must roll as Midtown rocks
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, April 15, 2008
If you were standing near 20th and J streets on Saturday evening, you might not have believed you were in midtown Sacramento.
Throngs of people filled the streets. Bands blasted music on several corners. A juggler could be seen whirling a stick of flame. An impromptu parade started up, and soon scores of merrymakers were weaving through the midtown grid.
It wasn't exactly Mardi Gras, but for the Second Saturday art walk it was one heck of a street party.
Many Sacramentans have long lamented that the city lacks an entertainment district. In recent years, midtown has answered that call.
A steady increase in new eateries, lofts and art spaces has transformed this area. With this growth has come growing pains.
Parking has spilled into residential streets, and motorists have become impatient, sometimes threatening the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
And then there's the reality of inebriation. Many midtown patrons enjoy their libations responsibly. They don't drive after drinking or relieve themselves in people's yards. But some do, and their numbers have triggered a backlash against businesses seeking licenses for beer, wine and liquor.
