Our research report: The American River Parkway: Recreation, Education, & Sanctuary has been posted to our website and here is the executive summary:
Executive Summary
1) Many Meanings
The American River Parkway means so many things to the many different people who explore it.
For families and their children it is a deep laboratory of educative experience and recreational communion; for bird watchers it is a continually discovering treasury of winged creatures from far and near; to the fisherman a rich harvest of seasonal joy; to the biker, horseback rider, and hiker, a pleasant traverse through beauty close to urban and suburban home.
2) New Parkway Plan
One of the major items we worked on during the initial planning period for the formation of ARPPS in 2002 was to encourage organized advocacy to finally conduct the planning update process that was mandated to be done every five years in the original Parkway Plan of 1985, but had not been done since.
Soon after, the update process began and now is reaching completion—for which we are very happy—and the community should feel some sense of pride in the work that has been done.
The crucial piece of the completion is to ensure that in the future, the update process sticks to the original five year sequence of review and update, as new issues will evolve requiring new planning.
3) Recreation
The most important reality to preserve in the work of the American River Parkway Preservation Society is that of the people to experience the Parkway fully, safely, and enjoyably; to absorb the sanctuary of an approximately 4,600 acre garden along the banks of the American River where families can walk, ride their bikes, ride horses, raft, fish, swim, sun themselves on the beaches and in the parks, play golf, have picnics, bird watch, jog, and just plain sit in a sunny spot and watch the river and people go by.
With horse-drawn carriages, bike rentals from downtown hotels and the increased public safety presence in the downtown and North Sacramento area of the Parkway long advocated for; we can envision people visiting Sacramento, staying in those downtown hotels, venturing out on the Parkway to get to golf courses, outdoor concerts and plays in Discovery Park, Paradise Beach, Sacramento State, Rancho Cordova, Gold River, Fair Oaks Village, Effie Yeaw and other Nature Centers, the Fish Hatchery, Nimbus Lake, old town Folsom, and links that are being established from new developments to the Parkway such as the proposed Folsom South Canal Corridor Plan.
4) Education
The primary educational experience of the Parkway is centered around the Effie Yeaw Nature Center http://www.effieyeaw.org/ with its multitude of educational events and publications directed towards the deepening of appreciation around the natural resources of the Parkway.
Unfortunately there is only one nature center in a Parkway of about 30 miles stretching from Folsom Lake to the confluence of the Sacramento River and several more are needed.
5) Sanctuary
The central aspect of the value of the Parkway is that of sanctuary, where urban and suburban residents can retreat into the natural environment for recreation, spiritual and psychological refreshment; and buildings (other than nature centers, golf course related structures, the Indian Heritage Center, and public accommodations) should not be allowed.
6) Conclusion
How do we accomplish all of this? How do we preserve, protect, and strengthen our Parkway so that the balance of educational, recreational and sanctuary experience is enhanced for all of us?
We can begin by looking to those parks where this has been done, and to those local resources able to help us get our Parkway to the future we envision: “We want our Parkway, seven generations from now, to be a vibrant, accessible, and serene sanctuary, nourishing and refreshing the spirit of all who enter it.”
This year our focus has been on strengthening the Parkway in those daily usage venues—biking—hiking—seeing and appreciating, with a call for a substantial increase in land acquisition and developed recreation areas to strengthen the Parkway’s footprint; and encouraging more and safer usage through a dedicated pedestrian trail freeing up the existing paved trail for bikes only, more picnic areas and park benches for passive appreciation accompanied by easier access for the frail elderly and handicapped, now virtually excluded, and more nature centers in communities like Rancho Cordova, North Sacramento, Rosemount, and Sutters Landing.
However, the single most important issue impacting recreation, education, and sanctuary, is the lack of public safety, particularly in the lower third area of the Parkway, where illegal homeless camps have been allowed for years, and where even park directors privately warn people not to venture alone.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Downtown Los Angeles
A little change of wording and this article about the ups and downs of trying to invigorate the downtown of Los Angeles—a natural suburban city as is Sacramento—with the help of a new Rite-Aid, could very well be Sacramento, art walks and all.
An excerpt.
“The Rite-Aid opened a few years ago with fanfare, arriving at just about the high-point of the hype over the “Residential Renaissance” of Downtown. Rite-Aid set up shop in the Santee Village project, an ambitious effort that saw a developer get plenty of help from various government agencies in order to convert a collection of mid-rise buildings from garment shops to residential lofts.
“The project won plaudits as the latest in a trend that was bound to remake Downtown into a place where folks with lots of disposable income could “live, work and play,” according to boosters.
“Rite-Aid’s arrival appeared to offer a clear signal that the trend would go on unabated. The new, young, and relatively upscale residents of Downtown would need a proper drugstore, after all. It all seemed quite modern for a section of the city where mom-and-pop corner stores were the only option for aspirin or chewing gum, and pharmacies were still just that—not places that offer shampoo and light bulbs and soda to customers waiting for their prescriptions to be filled.
“The hype apparently failed to meet the expectations of the marketplace, though, and now Rite-Aid is leaving.
“Get used to it—but also realize that this is a phase, and there can be some benefits to a slowdown.
“Also keep in mind that Downtown has, indeed, seen a great deal of change with the latest round of residential redevelopment. Much of it has been good, even with the strains that have come as wealthier newcomers bumped into the many poor folks who called the area home long before its latest star turn. Take some solace in the thought that such strains will likely find room to ease now that the hype fading.
“The pending closure of the Rite-Aid, meanwhile, offers lessons to be absorbed by boosters and others. The chain is no stranger to inner-city retail, but you can bet that its executives overlooked a few things on the way to the corner of 7th and Los Angeles, especially in regard to the chances for crowds of upscale loft dwellers filling their aisles. All the gushing press and publicity couldn’t change the fact that the location still backs up against Skid Row, one of the toughest precincts of the city. It still takes a walk of several blocks—through territory that can be pretty scary at night—to get to the next section of Downtown where bright lights and activity provide a perception of public security.”
An excerpt.
“The Rite-Aid opened a few years ago with fanfare, arriving at just about the high-point of the hype over the “Residential Renaissance” of Downtown. Rite-Aid set up shop in the Santee Village project, an ambitious effort that saw a developer get plenty of help from various government agencies in order to convert a collection of mid-rise buildings from garment shops to residential lofts.
“The project won plaudits as the latest in a trend that was bound to remake Downtown into a place where folks with lots of disposable income could “live, work and play,” according to boosters.
“Rite-Aid’s arrival appeared to offer a clear signal that the trend would go on unabated. The new, young, and relatively upscale residents of Downtown would need a proper drugstore, after all. It all seemed quite modern for a section of the city where mom-and-pop corner stores were the only option for aspirin or chewing gum, and pharmacies were still just that—not places that offer shampoo and light bulbs and soda to customers waiting for their prescriptions to be filled.
“The hype apparently failed to meet the expectations of the marketplace, though, and now Rite-Aid is leaving.
“Get used to it—but also realize that this is a phase, and there can be some benefits to a slowdown.
“Also keep in mind that Downtown has, indeed, seen a great deal of change with the latest round of residential redevelopment. Much of it has been good, even with the strains that have come as wealthier newcomers bumped into the many poor folks who called the area home long before its latest star turn. Take some solace in the thought that such strains will likely find room to ease now that the hype fading.
“The pending closure of the Rite-Aid, meanwhile, offers lessons to be absorbed by boosters and others. The chain is no stranger to inner-city retail, but you can bet that its executives overlooked a few things on the way to the corner of 7th and Los Angeles, especially in regard to the chances for crowds of upscale loft dwellers filling their aisles. All the gushing press and publicity couldn’t change the fact that the location still backs up against Skid Row, one of the toughest precincts of the city. It still takes a walk of several blocks—through territory that can be pretty scary at night—to get to the next section of Downtown where bright lights and activity provide a perception of public security.”
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Homeless Camp Murders Update
The most significant aspect of this story—other than the primary tragedy of the two deaths—is how entrenched homeless camps are becoming in our area, which most experts attribute to the concentration of services providing essential domestic service—feeding, showering, hangouts, medical, schooling for children, etc—without a corresponding demand to become involved in the type of services leading to a cessation of the homeless condition—job seeking training, vocational training, substance abuse counseling, etc; which has created an image of Sacramento in the perception of the homeless, particularly those with no inclination to change their condition, to migrate here.
Helping the homeless—and all others less fortunate than we are—is most certainly a mandate each community should undertake, but it is also a mandate each community needs to be involved in with a vigorous effort tying the provision of domestic service to a utilization of reformative service.
The one area where this does not hold true is in the delivery of service to the chronic homeless, where providing housing first—which we support—has been found to be the one step a community can do that really impacts the chronic homeless who have been homeless for so long and become so fundamentally degraded in initiative and responsibility that beginning with the security of housing is really the only program that seems to work for them to begin utilizing reformative service on their own; but for the general homeless who are only recently experiencing hard times and often still retain many attributes of personal responsibility, the tying of the communities help to the homeless helping themselves has to become the mantra.
An excerpt from the latest news on the homeless camp murders.
“Both bodies were found in a well- established homeless camp just south of 47th Avenue and east of the light-rail tracks.
“Earlier this week, police said they were investigating a possible link between the killings. They revealed no more information Friday, including whether they suspect other homeless people could be at risk.
“Any reverberations from the deaths had not made much impact on the homeless population at the city's north end, where the Loaves & Fishes shelter provides the largest array of homeless services in Sacramento.
"People have heard of the killings and it to some degree has increased their fear," said Joan Burke, director of advocacy at Loaves & Fishes. "But since they do not know who it was … there hasn't been a dramatic response to it."
Helping the homeless—and all others less fortunate than we are—is most certainly a mandate each community should undertake, but it is also a mandate each community needs to be involved in with a vigorous effort tying the provision of domestic service to a utilization of reformative service.
The one area where this does not hold true is in the delivery of service to the chronic homeless, where providing housing first—which we support—has been found to be the one step a community can do that really impacts the chronic homeless who have been homeless for so long and become so fundamentally degraded in initiative and responsibility that beginning with the security of housing is really the only program that seems to work for them to begin utilizing reformative service on their own; but for the general homeless who are only recently experiencing hard times and often still retain many attributes of personal responsibility, the tying of the communities help to the homeless helping themselves has to become the mantra.
An excerpt from the latest news on the homeless camp murders.
“Both bodies were found in a well- established homeless camp just south of 47th Avenue and east of the light-rail tracks.
“Earlier this week, police said they were investigating a possible link between the killings. They revealed no more information Friday, including whether they suspect other homeless people could be at risk.
“Any reverberations from the deaths had not made much impact on the homeless population at the city's north end, where the Loaves & Fishes shelter provides the largest array of homeless services in Sacramento.
"People have heard of the killings and it to some degree has increased their fear," said Joan Burke, director of advocacy at Loaves & Fishes. "But since they do not know who it was … there hasn't been a dramatic response to it."
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Helping the Salmon
Human intervention continues to play a major role in protecting the salmon run in the lower American River --which initially harmed it through the construction of upstream dams -- and these projects are a good example of that.
An excerpt from the story from the Bee.
“Two projects are under way this month to improve fish spawning in the American River.
“Salmon and steelhead need fine gravel sediment to create nests, or "redds," for their eggs. The projects will create more spawning habitat by adding and moving gravel at key locations.
“The first project began Monday at Sailor Bar Recreation Area near Fair Oaks and continues through Oct. 6. Over a five-year period, the work will add 75,000 cubic yards of gravel at seven locations on the river.
“Funded largely by federal water contractors, the work aims to atone for the effect of upstream dams, which block natural gravel movement downstream.
“The second project begins next week to improve access to a side channel for spawning steelhead. The site downstream of Sunrise Boulevard contains 9 percent of all steelhead spawning habitat in the river but dries out at flows less than 3,500 cubic feet per second, often killing millions of steelhead eggs.”
An excerpt from the story from the Bee.
“Two projects are under way this month to improve fish spawning in the American River.
“Salmon and steelhead need fine gravel sediment to create nests, or "redds," for their eggs. The projects will create more spawning habitat by adding and moving gravel at key locations.
“The first project began Monday at Sailor Bar Recreation Area near Fair Oaks and continues through Oct. 6. Over a five-year period, the work will add 75,000 cubic yards of gravel at seven locations on the river.
“Funded largely by federal water contractors, the work aims to atone for the effect of upstream dams, which block natural gravel movement downstream.
“The second project begins next week to improve access to a side channel for spawning steelhead. The site downstream of Sunrise Boulevard contains 9 percent of all steelhead spawning habitat in the river but dries out at flows less than 3,500 cubic feet per second, often killing millions of steelhead eggs.”
Friday, September 26, 2008
Homeless Camp Murders Announcement
Two bodies found in 24 hours
By Niesha Lofing - nlofing@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, September 26, 2008
Police are trying to learn what led to two homicides within 24 hours at a homeless camp in south Sacramento.
They say they are looking into the possibility that the killings are linked.
A man found dead about 4:34 a.m. Thursday was the second victim found in a brushy field along 47th Avenue, across the street from the Campbell's Soup factory and the 47th Avenue light-rail station. An established homeless camp populated by about 25 people is in the field.
The 39-year-old man apparently was killed by blunt force trauma or stabbing, Sacramento Police Sgt. Matt Young said.
The homicide is the second there in less than a day. Police were called to the field at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and found the body of a 38-year-old man who had been shot to death, he said.
The man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and might have been killed earlier in the day, he said.
Several witnesses were questioned about Wednesday's homicide, including the man whose body was found Thursday, Young said.
Motives remain unclear for the killings, and Young declined to speculate about what contributed to the violence that claimed the lives of both men, who are believed to have been transients. "We're in the very early stages of our investigation," he said.
The transient camp was devoid of residents Thursday morning, and detectives and Sacramento County sheriff's deputies – who were helping on the case – stood talking among the tattered blankets and garbage that litter the weedy field.
Kevin Fereira, who works at an equipment rental business next to the field, said about 10 homeless campers live on the property.
The business hasn't had any problems other than litter because of the camp, he said.
A sign posted toward the front of the field proclaims the coming of a new soccer complex, Soccer Planet.
The property is owned by Ramon and Connie Herrera, who also own and manage rental properties in Sacramento and a south Sacramento nightclub.
Anyone with information about the homicides is asked to call Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or (800) AA-CRIME. Callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
By Niesha Lofing - nlofing@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, September 26, 2008
Police are trying to learn what led to two homicides within 24 hours at a homeless camp in south Sacramento.
They say they are looking into the possibility that the killings are linked.
A man found dead about 4:34 a.m. Thursday was the second victim found in a brushy field along 47th Avenue, across the street from the Campbell's Soup factory and the 47th Avenue light-rail station. An established homeless camp populated by about 25 people is in the field.
The 39-year-old man apparently was killed by blunt force trauma or stabbing, Sacramento Police Sgt. Matt Young said.
The homicide is the second there in less than a day. Police were called to the field at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and found the body of a 38-year-old man who had been shot to death, he said.
The man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and might have been killed earlier in the day, he said.
Several witnesses were questioned about Wednesday's homicide, including the man whose body was found Thursday, Young said.
Motives remain unclear for the killings, and Young declined to speculate about what contributed to the violence that claimed the lives of both men, who are believed to have been transients. "We're in the very early stages of our investigation," he said.
The transient camp was devoid of residents Thursday morning, and detectives and Sacramento County sheriff's deputies – who were helping on the case – stood talking among the tattered blankets and garbage that litter the weedy field.
Kevin Fereira, who works at an equipment rental business next to the field, said about 10 homeless campers live on the property.
The business hasn't had any problems other than litter because of the camp, he said.
A sign posted toward the front of the field proclaims the coming of a new soccer complex, Soccer Planet.
The property is owned by Ramon and Connie Herrera, who also own and manage rental properties in Sacramento and a south Sacramento nightclub.
Anyone with information about the homicides is asked to call Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP or (800) AA-CRIME. Callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Body Found in American River Announcement
Body of transgender person recovered from American River
By Chelsea Phua - cphua@sacbee.com
Published 6:40 pm PDT Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Authorities recovered the body of a 22-year-old transgender woman from the American River on Sunday.
A fisherman spotted the body about 12:45 p.m. floating in the middle of the river less than a mile southeast of the Highway 160 bridge, coroner and police officials said.
Officer Konrad Von Schoech said authorities initially thought the body was female, because of long hair, painted toenails and a smaller frame. The body was also covered in mud so it was hard to tell, he said.
On closer examination, authorities determined it was a male body, Von Schoech said.
Coroner officials have identified the person, whose last known address was in North Highlands, using fingerprints, but have not released the identity pending notification of next-of-kin.
Von Schoech said initial investigation indicates that no foul play was involved, but authorities are awaiting autopsy results to determine a cause of death.
By Chelsea Phua - cphua@sacbee.com
Published 6:40 pm PDT Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Authorities recovered the body of a 22-year-old transgender woman from the American River on Sunday.
A fisherman spotted the body about 12:45 p.m. floating in the middle of the river less than a mile southeast of the Highway 160 bridge, coroner and police officials said.
Officer Konrad Von Schoech said authorities initially thought the body was female, because of long hair, painted toenails and a smaller frame. The body was also covered in mud so it was hard to tell, he said.
On closer examination, authorities determined it was a male body, Von Schoech said.
Coroner officials have identified the person, whose last known address was in North Highlands, using fingerprints, but have not released the identity pending notification of next-of-kin.
Von Schoech said initial investigation indicates that no foul play was involved, but authorities are awaiting autopsy results to determine a cause of death.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Panhandler Shoots Disabled Person
Though all of the circumstances have yet to come out about this tragic story reported in the Sacramento Bee, and might invalidate the speculation given here, the point must continually be made; that when certain corrosive behaviors are encouraged, they can often turn deadly; and the long standing tolerance—and even invitation—that our fair city has generally shown to the down-and-out without a corresponding and vigorous encouragement to shape-up ones life rather than accepting the status quo of downward degradation will often lead to tragedy.
Transforming behavior that is self destructive comes from an internal decision on the individual’s part and it is not hastened when the major focus of a community’s help is un-tethered to any self reformation efforts and that is, sadly, the position of the major local organizations working with the homeless, who comprise a significant part of the panhandling community.
When, and if, our community’s major outreach to the homeless community is values-based and centered around the importance of the individual making the decision to begin to transform their life; and when the programs working with the homeless are being developed and managed by those who are themselves formerly homeless who have rediscovered the grit and determination to transform their life, we might begin to see a change upward rather than downward.
An excerpt from the latest story in the Bee regarding this case.
“A 47-year-old woman will face four felony charges, including attempted murder, for allegedly shooting a man while she was panhandling in downtown Sacramento.
“Audrey Ann Jackson, who has no known address, stood in Sacramento Superior Court Wednesday during an afternoon hearing, listening to the charges and sometimes smiling at the judge.
“The other three charges are weapons violations, including possessing a handgun not registered to her.
“Jackson is accused of shooting and seriously injuring a state worker as he sat waiting for a bus ride home at Sixth and J streets Monday afternoon.
“The injured man, 54-year-old Frank Perez, who has cerebral palsy and walks with a cane, has undergone surgery and faces more procedures for wounds to his abdomen.
“Witnesses told police that Jackson was hitting up people for money at the bus stop and when she approached Perez, he declined.
“After a verbal exchange, Jackson pulled out a gun and shot Perez while he was sitting on a bus-stop bench, according to police.
“Jackson was arrested while riding a bus near Riverside Boulevard and Broadway a short time later.
“In a jailhouse interview, Jackson said she got the gun for protection after she was assaulted a year ago.”
Transforming behavior that is self destructive comes from an internal decision on the individual’s part and it is not hastened when the major focus of a community’s help is un-tethered to any self reformation efforts and that is, sadly, the position of the major local organizations working with the homeless, who comprise a significant part of the panhandling community.
When, and if, our community’s major outreach to the homeless community is values-based and centered around the importance of the individual making the decision to begin to transform their life; and when the programs working with the homeless are being developed and managed by those who are themselves formerly homeless who have rediscovered the grit and determination to transform their life, we might begin to see a change upward rather than downward.
An excerpt from the latest story in the Bee regarding this case.
“A 47-year-old woman will face four felony charges, including attempted murder, for allegedly shooting a man while she was panhandling in downtown Sacramento.
“Audrey Ann Jackson, who has no known address, stood in Sacramento Superior Court Wednesday during an afternoon hearing, listening to the charges and sometimes smiling at the judge.
“The other three charges are weapons violations, including possessing a handgun not registered to her.
“Jackson is accused of shooting and seriously injuring a state worker as he sat waiting for a bus ride home at Sixth and J streets Monday afternoon.
“The injured man, 54-year-old Frank Perez, who has cerebral palsy and walks with a cane, has undergone surgery and faces more procedures for wounds to his abdomen.
“Witnesses told police that Jackson was hitting up people for money at the bus stop and when she approached Perez, he declined.
“After a verbal exchange, Jackson pulled out a gun and shot Perez while he was sitting on a bus-stop bench, according to police.
“Jackson was arrested while riding a bus near Riverside Boulevard and Broadway a short time later.
“In a jailhouse interview, Jackson said she got the gun for protection after she was assaulted a year ago.”
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Parkway Fire Announcement
Fire burns near American River
Bee Metro Staff -
Published 3:09 pm PDT Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Sacramento Fire Department was fighting a wildland/grass fire this afternoon along the American River near Del Paso Boulevard and Highway 160, a spokesman said.
The fire was near a homeless encampment and no structures were involved, said Capt. Jim Doucette.
The fire raised a highly visible plume of smoke.
He said the fire was reported at 2:26 p.m. and quickly went to two alarms. However, he said firefighters were bringing the blaze under control.
Bee Metro Staff -
Published 3:09 pm PDT Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Sacramento Fire Department was fighting a wildland/grass fire this afternoon along the American River near Del Paso Boulevard and Highway 160, a spokesman said.
The fire was near a homeless encampment and no structures were involved, said Capt. Jim Doucette.
The fire raised a highly visible plume of smoke.
He said the fire was reported at 2:26 p.m. and quickly went to two alarms. However, he said firefighters were bringing the blaze under control.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
City Audits & Tent Cities
1) This editorial is on the money that the recent admission by the Sacramento city manager that many departments of city government have never been audited is mind-boggling, but accounts for the messes we’ve been seeing in the news recently around the library and utilities departments.
One wonders what else is lying in wait where there has been no accountability for generations…scary thought.
An excerpt.
“Sacramento City Manager Ray Kerridge made an astounding admission recently. Most city departments, he said, have never been audited.
“That lack of oversight helps explain the mess in the Utilities Department, which lost track of thousands of water meters and is under FBI investigation for possible illegal sale of those meters.
“Kerridge recommended, and the City Council approved, the hiring of two auditors to begin looking at all 17 city departments for waste, fraud and abuse. The cost is $125,000 for the first six months, but if the auditors are any good they should find far more than that in potential savings.”
2) Tent cities are springing up all over and with some cities are allowing them to stay, as lawyers win cases that restrict government from enforcing sanctions against sleeping and camping in public.
A recent article notes the increase.
An excerpt.
“RENO, Nev. - A few tents cropped up hard by the railroad tracks, pitched by men left with nowhere to go once the emergency winter shelter closed for the summer.
“Then others appeared — people who had lost their jobs to the ailing economy, or newcomers who had moved to Reno for work and discovered no one was hiring.
“Within weeks, more than 150 people were living in tents big and small, barely a foot apart in a patch of dirt slated to be a parking lot for a campus of shelters Reno is building for its homeless population. Like many other cities, Reno has found itself with a "tent city" — an encampment of people who had nowhere else to go.
“From Seattle to Athens, Ga., homeless advocacy groups and city agencies are reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.
“Nearly 61 percent of local and state homeless coalitions say they've experienced a rise in homelessness since the foreclosure crisis began in 2007, according to a report by the National Coalition for the Homeless. The group says the problem has worsened since the report's release in April, with foreclosures mounting, gas and food prices rising and the job market tightening.”
One wonders what else is lying in wait where there has been no accountability for generations…scary thought.
An excerpt.
“Sacramento City Manager Ray Kerridge made an astounding admission recently. Most city departments, he said, have never been audited.
“That lack of oversight helps explain the mess in the Utilities Department, which lost track of thousands of water meters and is under FBI investigation for possible illegal sale of those meters.
“Kerridge recommended, and the City Council approved, the hiring of two auditors to begin looking at all 17 city departments for waste, fraud and abuse. The cost is $125,000 for the first six months, but if the auditors are any good they should find far more than that in potential savings.”
2) Tent cities are springing up all over and with some cities are allowing them to stay, as lawyers win cases that restrict government from enforcing sanctions against sleeping and camping in public.
A recent article notes the increase.
An excerpt.
“RENO, Nev. - A few tents cropped up hard by the railroad tracks, pitched by men left with nowhere to go once the emergency winter shelter closed for the summer.
“Then others appeared — people who had lost their jobs to the ailing economy, or newcomers who had moved to Reno for work and discovered no one was hiring.
“Within weeks, more than 150 people were living in tents big and small, barely a foot apart in a patch of dirt slated to be a parking lot for a campus of shelters Reno is building for its homeless population. Like many other cities, Reno has found itself with a "tent city" — an encampment of people who had nowhere else to go.
“From Seattle to Athens, Ga., homeless advocacy groups and city agencies are reporting the most visible rise in homeless encampments in a generation.
“Nearly 61 percent of local and state homeless coalitions say they've experienced a rise in homelessness since the foreclosure crisis began in 2007, according to a report by the National Coalition for the Homeless. The group says the problem has worsened since the report's release in April, with foreclosures mounting, gas and food prices rising and the job market tightening.”
Monday, September 22, 2008
Cleaning up the Parkway
This story in the Bee is a wonderful testament to the deep love so many of us feel for the Parkway, and how important it is to keep it nice and clean for everyone to use; but it also is a deadly reminder of how dirty it gets, largely through the illegal camping by the homeless, and how crucial it is that we discover another way to ensure it remains clean rather than the sporadic clean-up by small organizations that can’t possibly keep up with the mess, or even the most dedicated efforts by one or two volunteers who do so regularly.
Remember that the Parkway is falling behind about $1.1 million annually just in maintenance, according to the American River Parkway Financial Needs Study Update 2006 (p. vii), so it is impossible to care for the Parkway—including regular clean-up—as it was intended to be cared for, let alone to improve it by adding new land and expanding its educational and recreational assets.
The solution we have proposed for stabilizing funding for the American River Parkway is to establish a nonprofit organization to contract with a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) of local government entities, to manage the Parkway and provide a supplemental fund raising capability through philanthropy, which you can read more about on our website’s news page in our press release from January 18, 2008.
This is the model being used by the Central Park Conservancy to manage Central Park in New York—and the Conservancy raise’s 85% of funding needed by Central Park (including paid leadership coordinating the efforts of the many volunteers who regularly clean it up)—and the Sacramento Zoological Society to manage the Sacramento Zoo, which they have wholly done since 1997 under contract with the City of Sacramento.
An excerpt from the article.
“When the annual Great American River Clean Up kicks off at 9 a.m. today [September 20] with 1,000 volunteers destined to collect 20 tons of garbage, Bill Perry, 57, will be among them.
“The retired state worker has become a local legend.
“The oldest of seven children, Perry credits his dad for teaching him to leave a place better than he found it.
“The Bee chatted with Perry about his commitment to picking up trash.
“There's trash everywhere, not just on the parkway. Does it ever drive you crazy?
“I understand that it's bigger than me. I just do my little piece. So I don't lay awake thinking about it.
“Why do you do it?
“I started rowing on the American in 1985 after breaking my kneecap. I couldn't ride my bike for about a year. I would see the trash along the riverbanks. I've always had a lot of pride in Sacramento and I didn't like the idea of the boaters seeing all of that trash because I thought it reflected on our community.
“Did it begin to consume you?
“The American River is just so beautiful. There were times when I worked four or five days in a row. I would take vacation time to do this.
“Though they're not the only ones who litter, the homeless are part of the equation on the lower three miles of the parkway. What have you observed about that population over the years?
“It was almost like society itself. There were drug addicts and mentally ill who were really not approachable. But there were also regular everyday people who were just trying to get by. You can stereotype a whole group if you want, but they are all very different people.”
Remember that the Parkway is falling behind about $1.1 million annually just in maintenance, according to the American River Parkway Financial Needs Study Update 2006 (p. vii), so it is impossible to care for the Parkway—including regular clean-up—as it was intended to be cared for, let alone to improve it by adding new land and expanding its educational and recreational assets.
The solution we have proposed for stabilizing funding for the American River Parkway is to establish a nonprofit organization to contract with a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) of local government entities, to manage the Parkway and provide a supplemental fund raising capability through philanthropy, which you can read more about on our website’s news page in our press release from January 18, 2008.
This is the model being used by the Central Park Conservancy to manage Central Park in New York—and the Conservancy raise’s 85% of funding needed by Central Park (including paid leadership coordinating the efforts of the many volunteers who regularly clean it up)—and the Sacramento Zoological Society to manage the Sacramento Zoo, which they have wholly done since 1997 under contract with the City of Sacramento.
An excerpt from the article.
“When the annual Great American River Clean Up kicks off at 9 a.m. today [September 20] with 1,000 volunteers destined to collect 20 tons of garbage, Bill Perry, 57, will be among them.
“The retired state worker has become a local legend.
“The oldest of seven children, Perry credits his dad for teaching him to leave a place better than he found it.
“The Bee chatted with Perry about his commitment to picking up trash.
“There's trash everywhere, not just on the parkway. Does it ever drive you crazy?
“I understand that it's bigger than me. I just do my little piece. So I don't lay awake thinking about it.
“Why do you do it?
“I started rowing on the American in 1985 after breaking my kneecap. I couldn't ride my bike for about a year. I would see the trash along the riverbanks. I've always had a lot of pride in Sacramento and I didn't like the idea of the boaters seeing all of that trash because I thought it reflected on our community.
“Did it begin to consume you?
“The American River is just so beautiful. There were times when I worked four or five days in a row. I would take vacation time to do this.
“Though they're not the only ones who litter, the homeless are part of the equation on the lower three miles of the parkway. What have you observed about that population over the years?
“It was almost like society itself. There were drug addicts and mentally ill who were really not approachable. But there were also regular everyday people who were just trying to get by. You can stereotype a whole group if you want, but they are all very different people.”
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Railyard Development, Atlanta
Here is an interesting story about a railyard development in Atlanta that has many of the same markers floating around the development of the railyard in Sacramento, and in Atlanta, one element that doesn’t seem to fit the typical urbanism template is how conducive the development is to the car driving public; almost suburban in that sense—like the wonderful free parking—long a suburban right of nature.
Here is an excerpt.
“Atlantic Station is a new development near the core of Atlanta being built on disused railroad tracks. It combines residential, housing and retail uses and, among proponents of the New Urbanist movement and is often held up as a model for developments to come.
“Atlantic Station is traditionally urban but is surprisingly suburban. On the surface, Atlantic Station appears to fit many of the New Urbanist design criteria. The buildings start at the sidewalk (pavement) line, rather than being behind parking lots. There are no indoor shopping malls. Instead the stores are directly on the streets, reminiscent of old downtowns or the first shopping centers, like Country Club in Kansas City.
“Some of the normally superficial New Urbanism, however, is even more ephemeral in Atlantic Station. For one thing, prime New Urbanist lynchpins --- anti-automobile design, pedestrian orientation, transit orientation, paid parking, banning of big box stores --- do not apply there.
“Throughout the development there are entrances at the sidewalk level that look like New York subway entrances. As in New York, they go down. But they don’t go down to a subway --- that’s well beyond walking distance, across one of the nation’s widest freeways in Midtown. Instead, the stairs --- at least 16 such entrances --- lead down to a three-story parking lot that appears to be under the entire development. Houston could not have done it bigger or better.
“The architects did not design Atlantic Station from the ground up --- they designed it with three levels of parking under the stores, residences and streets. Thus, this “pedestrian oriented development” sits on a foundation of automobile orientation. And don’t think that the parking lots are only below the surface. Virtually all of the tall office and residential towers have a number of floors above the parking lot platform, though to the credit of the architects, they are not obvious.
“Another rather suburban feature is free parking. A staple of current urban planning is that parking should not be free. The opponents of free parking believe that if only free parking were outlawed, people would flock to inner cities and transit. And to be sure, the little street parking provided in Atlantic Station is metered, which means people must pay. But on all of the parking meters there are signs to the effect that two hours of free parking are offered in the underground lots.”
Here is an excerpt.
“Atlantic Station is a new development near the core of Atlanta being built on disused railroad tracks. It combines residential, housing and retail uses and, among proponents of the New Urbanist movement and is often held up as a model for developments to come.
“Atlantic Station is traditionally urban but is surprisingly suburban. On the surface, Atlantic Station appears to fit many of the New Urbanist design criteria. The buildings start at the sidewalk (pavement) line, rather than being behind parking lots. There are no indoor shopping malls. Instead the stores are directly on the streets, reminiscent of old downtowns or the first shopping centers, like Country Club in Kansas City.
“Some of the normally superficial New Urbanism, however, is even more ephemeral in Atlantic Station. For one thing, prime New Urbanist lynchpins --- anti-automobile design, pedestrian orientation, transit orientation, paid parking, banning of big box stores --- do not apply there.
“Throughout the development there are entrances at the sidewalk level that look like New York subway entrances. As in New York, they go down. But they don’t go down to a subway --- that’s well beyond walking distance, across one of the nation’s widest freeways in Midtown. Instead, the stairs --- at least 16 such entrances --- lead down to a three-story parking lot that appears to be under the entire development. Houston could not have done it bigger or better.
“The architects did not design Atlantic Station from the ground up --- they designed it with three levels of parking under the stores, residences and streets. Thus, this “pedestrian oriented development” sits on a foundation of automobile orientation. And don’t think that the parking lots are only below the surface. Virtually all of the tall office and residential towers have a number of floors above the parking lot platform, though to the credit of the architects, they are not obvious.
“Another rather suburban feature is free parking. A staple of current urban planning is that parking should not be free. The opponents of free parking believe that if only free parking were outlawed, people would flock to inner cities and transit. And to be sure, the little street parking provided in Atlantic Station is metered, which means people must pay. But on all of the parking meters there are signs to the effect that two hours of free parking are offered in the underground lots.”
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Government Communications
Though it sounds like an oxymoron more often than naught, the rewards from government communicating honestly to the public are substantial and can help in the partnership that both must be involved in to render more value to that which both desire, the public good; of particular application to the Parkway.
Good government communication with the public through the media is the subject of this article.
An excerpt.
“Those of us who work in or with government know only too well the problems that can arise when journalists start paying attention to performance data from government. Declining performance, missed targets, and performance that is worse than peers are fodder for a nasty news story. Our instinct, therefore, is to fear the media and hope it will ignore our measurement efforts.
“Bad instinct. Instead of running from the media, we should run to it — but armed with data to get reporters to write articles that will help government tackle social, environmental, and economic problems. We should also think more strategically about other key audiences that can use government data to make better decisions to improve societal outcomes.
“Check your local paper. If it is like my mine, it carries several stories every day with data about problems that government agencies are trying to reduce. Some even report government successes. One day this month, for example, the lead story in my local paper reported the increase in state residents with healthcare coverage linked to the state health care reform law. On another page, there was a story about a new link between arsenic and diabetes, based on a "new analysis of government data," and another, again citing government data, reported racial disparities in the use of corporal punishment by schools. Yet another story reported the number of college students who died from drinking. Three editorials included data, while the front page of the metro section featured two maps showing obesity rates in every state from 1991 through 2007. Simply put, the paper was packed with stories using data gathered by government or nonprofit organizations.”
Good government communication with the public through the media is the subject of this article.
An excerpt.
“Those of us who work in or with government know only too well the problems that can arise when journalists start paying attention to performance data from government. Declining performance, missed targets, and performance that is worse than peers are fodder for a nasty news story. Our instinct, therefore, is to fear the media and hope it will ignore our measurement efforts.
“Bad instinct. Instead of running from the media, we should run to it — but armed with data to get reporters to write articles that will help government tackle social, environmental, and economic problems. We should also think more strategically about other key audiences that can use government data to make better decisions to improve societal outcomes.
“Check your local paper. If it is like my mine, it carries several stories every day with data about problems that government agencies are trying to reduce. Some even report government successes. One day this month, for example, the lead story in my local paper reported the increase in state residents with healthcare coverage linked to the state health care reform law. On another page, there was a story about a new link between arsenic and diabetes, based on a "new analysis of government data," and another, again citing government data, reported racial disparities in the use of corporal punishment by schools. Yet another story reported the number of college students who died from drinking. Three editorials included data, while the front page of the metro section featured two maps showing obesity rates in every state from 1991 through 2007. Simply put, the paper was packed with stories using data gathered by government or nonprofit organizations.”
Friday, September 19, 2008
Walnut Crop Announcement & Panhandler Marketing
1) Record harvest estimate – 750 million pounds
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, September 17, 2008
"This year's harvest of California walnuts will be the biggest ever, according to a forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"Farmers are likely to gather about 750 million pounds of walnuts this fall, beating the 2005 record by more than 5 percent. Walnuts are one of the top three crops in the Sacramento Valley.
"The state's walnut harvest has grown roughly 80 percent in the past 20 years, according to the USDA figures."
– Jim Downing
2) Like any good business plan, the art of panhandling is developing marketing tools to advance its cause and is using technology to further communicate those tools, as this post indicates.
An excerpt.
“Tips for panhandlers, from panhandlers
“Currently, the direct, humorous approach is in vogue. That's why in many cities today you'll hear some version of: "I won't lie to you, I need a drink." Panhandlers also report that asking for specific amounts of money lends credibility to pitches. "I need 43 more cents to get a cup of coffee," a panhandler will declare; some people will give exactly that much, while others will simply hand over a buck.
“Oddly, the tips are offered on-line:
“If it seems unlikely that a homeless person would surf the Web for advice on how to panhandle, that's exactly the point: many aren't homeless and are lying about their circumstances.”
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, September 17, 2008
"This year's harvest of California walnuts will be the biggest ever, according to a forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"Farmers are likely to gather about 750 million pounds of walnuts this fall, beating the 2005 record by more than 5 percent. Walnuts are one of the top three crops in the Sacramento Valley.
"The state's walnut harvest has grown roughly 80 percent in the past 20 years, according to the USDA figures."
– Jim Downing
2) Like any good business plan, the art of panhandling is developing marketing tools to advance its cause and is using technology to further communicate those tools, as this post indicates.
An excerpt.
“Tips for panhandlers, from panhandlers
“Currently, the direct, humorous approach is in vogue. That's why in many cities today you'll hear some version of: "I won't lie to you, I need a drink." Panhandlers also report that asking for specific amounts of money lends credibility to pitches. "I need 43 more cents to get a cup of coffee," a panhandler will declare; some people will give exactly that much, while others will simply hand over a buck.
“Oddly, the tips are offered on-line:
“If it seems unlikely that a homeless person would surf the Web for advice on how to panhandle, that's exactly the point: many aren't homeless and are lying about their circumstances.”
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Climate Change
A former member of the Thatcher government writes a book about global warming from a provocative position; what if the worst scenarios are correct and what can we do?
The review is in the Weekly Standard. (link requires subscription to read in full)
An excerpt.
“He is, as he emphasizes, not a scientist--and his approach also demonstrates a sense of what is appropriate for him to undertake. But he is more than credentialed to talk about implementing policy and, at the outset, he articulates exactly what is at issue--surprisingly easy to lose sight of--for policy- makers addressing climate change: "What has been the rise in global mean temperatures over the past hundred years; why we believe this has occurred; how much, on this basis, are temperatures likely to rise over the next hundred years; and what are the consequences likely to be."
“Acknowledging that "the twentieth century ended slightly warmer than it began" (by 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit), Lawson points out that there has been no significant warming since the beginning of this century. This cessation was not predicted by the computer models that experts rely on for forecasts of future warming. Predictions have been adjusted to account for the pause, and warming is now expected to resume next year. But, says Lawson, "we shall see" whether it does.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)--"far and away the most authoritative and influential" of existing climate change organizations, according to Lawson--predicts in its latest report that, by 2100, the global average temperature will have risen between 3.2 degrees and 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit. The general consensus for preventing this predicted warming is to enact policies that force the reduction of man-made carbon dioxide emissions, which create a greenhouse effect in the atmosphere. But the cost of mitigation would be extraordinary because of global reliance on carbon-based energy.”
The review is in the Weekly Standard. (link requires subscription to read in full)
An excerpt.
“He is, as he emphasizes, not a scientist--and his approach also demonstrates a sense of what is appropriate for him to undertake. But he is more than credentialed to talk about implementing policy and, at the outset, he articulates exactly what is at issue--surprisingly easy to lose sight of--for policy- makers addressing climate change: "What has been the rise in global mean temperatures over the past hundred years; why we believe this has occurred; how much, on this basis, are temperatures likely to rise over the next hundred years; and what are the consequences likely to be."
“Acknowledging that "the twentieth century ended slightly warmer than it began" (by 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit), Lawson points out that there has been no significant warming since the beginning of this century. This cessation was not predicted by the computer models that experts rely on for forecasts of future warming. Predictions have been adjusted to account for the pause, and warming is now expected to resume next year. But, says Lawson, "we shall see" whether it does.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)--"far and away the most authoritative and influential" of existing climate change organizations, according to Lawson--predicts in its latest report that, by 2100, the global average temperature will have risen between 3.2 degrees and 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit. The general consensus for preventing this predicted warming is to enact policies that force the reduction of man-made carbon dioxide emissions, which create a greenhouse effect in the atmosphere. But the cost of mitigation would be extraordinary because of global reliance on carbon-based energy.”
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Light Rail & Growing Charlotte
1) A recent letter to the editor in the Sacramento Bee recounts experiences similar to other accounts and helps explain why so few will ride light rail on a regular basis.
"Going green isn't worth light-rail risks
"I recently started to ride light rail because of the high cost of fuel, as I'm sure many people have done.
"The trouble is that what you have to put up with in the public transportation system makes it not worth the effort. Since I have been riding, I have witnessed mentally unstable people screaming and berating other passengers, smelly homeless people, aluminum can collectors with large bags of stinky cans, people drinking alcohol and leaving the bottles, and teenagers with no respect for anyone around them.
"I have feared for my safety a few times when strange individuals have confronted me or got off the train with me when it was dark outside.
"Why should people try to be green by not driving their cars when they have to put up with these types of people? It's not worth the risk for my safety.
"– Rick Wagner, Sacramento"
2) Charlotte, North Carolina (not much bigger than Sacramento and we, who are thinking of becoming a green technology powerhouse, could note how they did it) is emerging as a financial powerhouse, as reported by New Geography.
An excerpt.
“Charlotte’s emergence has been remarkably rapid. When John Harris was growing up on a dairy farm outside Charlotte some six decades ago, it was still a sleepy little southern town. “It was a quiet kind of place back then,” he recalls. “We were a stepchild to the people back East.”
“Today, Charlotte is a stepchild no longer. Taking advantage of a traditional Southern sense of being under-estimated, the leadership in this region of some 1.5 million has worked to become not only a bigger place but an important one.
“The stepchild always has to work harder,” explains Harris, one of the region’s leading real estate powers. “We’ve always known what it’s like to be ‘have nots,’ not the ‘haves.’”
“Like Houston, Charlotte represents a classic opportunity city, a place built by newcomers used to not getting too much respect. While other New York rivals like Chicago and San Francisco could seem cosmopolitan enough to be real contenders, Charlotte has emerged very much out of nowhere, in a charge led by people who, at least before the last decade or so, seemed like nobodies.
“Charlotte’s ascendancy has not been brought about by a well-developed hierarchy but by entrepreneurs like Bank of America’s Hugh McColl, many of whom came from smaller southern cities to Charlotte in the 1960s and 1970s. In the ensuing decades, through mergers and regional expansion, Charlotte has vaulted past not only its southern rivals but traditional banking power centers like Chicago, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.”
"Going green isn't worth light-rail risks
"I recently started to ride light rail because of the high cost of fuel, as I'm sure many people have done.
"The trouble is that what you have to put up with in the public transportation system makes it not worth the effort. Since I have been riding, I have witnessed mentally unstable people screaming and berating other passengers, smelly homeless people, aluminum can collectors with large bags of stinky cans, people drinking alcohol and leaving the bottles, and teenagers with no respect for anyone around them.
"I have feared for my safety a few times when strange individuals have confronted me or got off the train with me when it was dark outside.
"Why should people try to be green by not driving their cars when they have to put up with these types of people? It's not worth the risk for my safety.
"– Rick Wagner, Sacramento"
2) Charlotte, North Carolina (not much bigger than Sacramento and we, who are thinking of becoming a green technology powerhouse, could note how they did it) is emerging as a financial powerhouse, as reported by New Geography.
An excerpt.
“Charlotte’s emergence has been remarkably rapid. When John Harris was growing up on a dairy farm outside Charlotte some six decades ago, it was still a sleepy little southern town. “It was a quiet kind of place back then,” he recalls. “We were a stepchild to the people back East.”
“Today, Charlotte is a stepchild no longer. Taking advantage of a traditional Southern sense of being under-estimated, the leadership in this region of some 1.5 million has worked to become not only a bigger place but an important one.
“The stepchild always has to work harder,” explains Harris, one of the region’s leading real estate powers. “We’ve always known what it’s like to be ‘have nots,’ not the ‘haves.’”
“Like Houston, Charlotte represents a classic opportunity city, a place built by newcomers used to not getting too much respect. While other New York rivals like Chicago and San Francisco could seem cosmopolitan enough to be real contenders, Charlotte has emerged very much out of nowhere, in a charge led by people who, at least before the last decade or so, seemed like nobodies.
“Charlotte’s ascendancy has not been brought about by a well-developed hierarchy but by entrepreneurs like Bank of America’s Hugh McColl, many of whom came from smaller southern cities to Charlotte in the 1960s and 1970s. In the ensuing decades, through mergers and regional expansion, Charlotte has vaulted past not only its southern rivals but traditional banking power centers like Chicago, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.”
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
ARPPS Commentary Published
Our commentary on the Parkway Plan Update was published in the Rancho Cordova Post.
An excerpt.
“One of the major items we worked on during the initial planning period for the formation of a new nonprofit advocacy organization—the American River Parkway Preservation Society— in 2002, was to encourage the planning update process to be conducted.
“Soon after, the update process finally began and now is reaching completion—for which we are very happy—and the community should feel a certain sense of pride in the work that has been done.
“The crucial piece of the completion is to ensure that in the future, the update process sticks to the original five year sequence of review and update, as new issues will evolve requiring new planning…
“However, what has still not been addressed adequately in this updated plan are two of the key issues that threaten the Parkway.
“The American River Parkway is the most important recreational area in our region and it has serious financial and public safety issues not being dealt with effectively.”
An excerpt.
“One of the major items we worked on during the initial planning period for the formation of a new nonprofit advocacy organization—the American River Parkway Preservation Society— in 2002, was to encourage the planning update process to be conducted.
“Soon after, the update process finally began and now is reaching completion—for which we are very happy—and the community should feel a certain sense of pride in the work that has been done.
“The crucial piece of the completion is to ensure that in the future, the update process sticks to the original five year sequence of review and update, as new issues will evolve requiring new planning…
“However, what has still not been addressed adequately in this updated plan are two of the key issues that threaten the Parkway.
“The American River Parkway is the most important recreational area in our region and it has serious financial and public safety issues not being dealt with effectively.”
Parkway Letters
Two excellent letters published today about the Parkway; the first on illegal camping and helping the homeless, the second on the bike trail and helping all of us traverse the Parkway more safely.
Letters to the Editor
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Illegal camping a serious problem
I applaud Sacramento's 10-year plan to end homelessness, and I also agree with David Lukenbill's letter that illegal camping along the American River Parkway is a serious problem and intimidates otherwise lawful users of the area ("Illegal camping has consequences," letters, Sept. 11).
Those who find themselves homeless due to job loss, medical crisis or domestic issues deserve our full support in the way of programs and services to get them back into housing and employment. Those severely disabled or too ill, mentally or otherwise, to keep independent housing or employment are our responsibility to care for, as well. They do not deserve to be sleeping on the streets.
However, even the fiercest homeless advocates cannot deny that some have simply become accustomed to a lifestyle free from responsibility. Free daily meals, enough panhandled cash for alcohol, and a sleeping bag along the American River Parkway are all that some seem to want or need. The memorial to the murdered homeless man several months ago still stands in the midst of the homeless camp on the American River Parkway, where dozens still camp. Why does the city allow illegal activity despite the protests of the community?
– Chip Powell, Sacramento
Parkway rules are cyclist imperialism
Departing from the letter to the editor "Rules of the road are helpful" (Sept. 12), I see Rick Kushman's article apprising the public of the "rules" of the bikeway as an imperialistic way of securing the bike path for Lance Armstrong wannabes.
The bike path is for everyone. Not just those who have mastered bike riding 1A. The idea that families with small children should be discouraged from using our 32 miles of gorgeous bike-walking-running pathway is ridiculous.
If bikers are truly obeying the 15 mph rule, there should be no problem with children and new bike riders, as well as those incredibly rude hikers or runners who dare to step off the dirt path to actually use the pavement (sarcasm intended). The bike path was paid for by all of us taxpayers, not just those who have appropriate bicycle etiquette and decal-covered clothing.
I am a bike rider who has used the parkway for 20 years, and I have noticed in the past seven years the increase in rude behavior of über-bikers, who should truly be on the road instead of the parkway. The rules should be dictated to them – not to those families and children we are trying to encourage to exercise and get fresh air.
– Mimi Sharpe, Sacramento
And there is one response to Ms. Sharpe's letter, also posted at sacbeee.com comments
"Ms. Sharpe: you need to get the signs on the trail changed ("walkers and joggers use left shoulder") for it to become something different.I'm a trail user since 1970. As a cyclist I've hit two female joggers, both times clearly their fault (one fled the scene and I lay on the pavement for an hour for an ambulance). As a runner, I used the hiking/horse trail which runs parallel to the bike trail. Much safer.
I would never take my children or grandchildren on the trail until their skills as bikers or hikers were such that they could take care of themselves. Asking bikers and runners to share that narrow piece of pavement is quite risky. You will change your mind the first time you hit a clueless pedestrian who steps in front of you with no warning whatsoever. And it can happen at very slow speeds. The one which nearly killed me involved a speed of about 5 mph. Have a nice day."
--Walt
Letters to the Editor
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Illegal camping a serious problem
I applaud Sacramento's 10-year plan to end homelessness, and I also agree with David Lukenbill's letter that illegal camping along the American River Parkway is a serious problem and intimidates otherwise lawful users of the area ("Illegal camping has consequences," letters, Sept. 11).
Those who find themselves homeless due to job loss, medical crisis or domestic issues deserve our full support in the way of programs and services to get them back into housing and employment. Those severely disabled or too ill, mentally or otherwise, to keep independent housing or employment are our responsibility to care for, as well. They do not deserve to be sleeping on the streets.
However, even the fiercest homeless advocates cannot deny that some have simply become accustomed to a lifestyle free from responsibility. Free daily meals, enough panhandled cash for alcohol, and a sleeping bag along the American River Parkway are all that some seem to want or need. The memorial to the murdered homeless man several months ago still stands in the midst of the homeless camp on the American River Parkway, where dozens still camp. Why does the city allow illegal activity despite the protests of the community?
– Chip Powell, Sacramento
Parkway rules are cyclist imperialism
Departing from the letter to the editor "Rules of the road are helpful" (Sept. 12), I see Rick Kushman's article apprising the public of the "rules" of the bikeway as an imperialistic way of securing the bike path for Lance Armstrong wannabes.
The bike path is for everyone. Not just those who have mastered bike riding 1A. The idea that families with small children should be discouraged from using our 32 miles of gorgeous bike-walking-running pathway is ridiculous.
If bikers are truly obeying the 15 mph rule, there should be no problem with children and new bike riders, as well as those incredibly rude hikers or runners who dare to step off the dirt path to actually use the pavement (sarcasm intended). The bike path was paid for by all of us taxpayers, not just those who have appropriate bicycle etiquette and decal-covered clothing.
I am a bike rider who has used the parkway for 20 years, and I have noticed in the past seven years the increase in rude behavior of über-bikers, who should truly be on the road instead of the parkway. The rules should be dictated to them – not to those families and children we are trying to encourage to exercise and get fresh air.
– Mimi Sharpe, Sacramento
And there is one response to Ms. Sharpe's letter, also posted at sacbeee.com comments
"Ms. Sharpe: you need to get the signs on the trail changed ("walkers and joggers use left shoulder") for it to become something different.I'm a trail user since 1970. As a cyclist I've hit two female joggers, both times clearly their fault (one fled the scene and I lay on the pavement for an hour for an ambulance). As a runner, I used the hiking/horse trail which runs parallel to the bike trail. Much safer.
I would never take my children or grandchildren on the trail until their skills as bikers or hikers were such that they could take care of themselves. Asking bikers and runners to share that narrow piece of pavement is quite risky. You will change your mind the first time you hit a clueless pedestrian who steps in front of you with no warning whatsoever. And it can happen at very slow speeds. The one which nearly killed me involved a speed of about 5 mph. Have a nice day."
--Walt
Monday, September 15, 2008
Carriage Rides & Sutter’s Landing Park
1) One of the many things we would like to see available in the Parkway are carriage rides and this long-term local carriage company, reported by the Bee, are just the folks to do it.
An excerpt.
“The Bee spoke with Rick Newborn, whose Top Hand Ranch offers everything from $10 loops around Old Sacramento to $1,000-plus horse-drawn hearse service…
"How's business lately?
"We've been surviving – just not as well as we did in the past. It's the economy, and there's also a lot of little things digging at us. The price of hay has tripled in the last five years. There used to be a lot more tour buses that parked in Old Sac. In the 1980s, there were six carriage companies (in Old Town) – now there are only two.
"What's your busiest time?
"Our best season is probably in the springtime, around spring break. Late fall is also good – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. It's slowest after New Year's. Summer is in-between. We shut down when it gets above 100 degrees, so we lose a lot of hours on hot days.
"What are your days like?
"I start getting the horses ready at about 8 a.m. (in Rescue, east of El Dorado Hills). We get into Sacramento by 10 a.m., and at 11 a.m. we're on the street. Right now, I'm spending most of the day reshoeing horses (while employees run the carriages). On a weekday, we'll pull out of town around 7:30 p.m. Old Sac is about half our business. The rest is contract work – weddings, funerals, parades. We try to take Mondays off.:"
2) The proposed park upgrade reported in the Sacramento Bee, is a wonderful addition to the Parkway area and if the zoo can relocate there also, a real destination point for the region, adding to the already regional draw of the Parkway.
This will eventually also raise the legitimate usage of that area of the Parkway, thus helping reduce the wide-spread illegitimate use.
An excerpt.
“The sign may say, "Welcome to Sutter's Landing Regional Park," but this spot near midtown doesn't exactly have its arms open to visitors.
"The first thing you see is all this asphalt," said Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn, whose district includes the midtown neighborhood.
“The city is launching an innovative plan to plant trees and native grasses on top of the blacktop-capped former landfill at the north end of 28th Street. The result will be new places for recreation and access to the American River.
“Last week, the Sacramento City Council approved $1.2 million in bond funds for the project's first phase, which will include a 4-acre landscaped dog park, basketball, handball and bocce ball courts, and improved river access points.
“Constructing a landscaped park atop a landfill is a complex proposition, and Sutter's Landing will be the first of its kind in the region, Cohn said.”
An excerpt.
“The Bee spoke with Rick Newborn, whose Top Hand Ranch offers everything from $10 loops around Old Sacramento to $1,000-plus horse-drawn hearse service…
"How's business lately?
"We've been surviving – just not as well as we did in the past. It's the economy, and there's also a lot of little things digging at us. The price of hay has tripled in the last five years. There used to be a lot more tour buses that parked in Old Sac. In the 1980s, there were six carriage companies (in Old Town) – now there are only two.
"What's your busiest time?
"Our best season is probably in the springtime, around spring break. Late fall is also good – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. It's slowest after New Year's. Summer is in-between. We shut down when it gets above 100 degrees, so we lose a lot of hours on hot days.
"What are your days like?
"I start getting the horses ready at about 8 a.m. (in Rescue, east of El Dorado Hills). We get into Sacramento by 10 a.m., and at 11 a.m. we're on the street. Right now, I'm spending most of the day reshoeing horses (while employees run the carriages). On a weekday, we'll pull out of town around 7:30 p.m. Old Sac is about half our business. The rest is contract work – weddings, funerals, parades. We try to take Mondays off.:"
2) The proposed park upgrade reported in the Sacramento Bee, is a wonderful addition to the Parkway area and if the zoo can relocate there also, a real destination point for the region, adding to the already regional draw of the Parkway.
This will eventually also raise the legitimate usage of that area of the Parkway, thus helping reduce the wide-spread illegitimate use.
An excerpt.
“The sign may say, "Welcome to Sutter's Landing Regional Park," but this spot near midtown doesn't exactly have its arms open to visitors.
"The first thing you see is all this asphalt," said Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn, whose district includes the midtown neighborhood.
“The city is launching an innovative plan to plant trees and native grasses on top of the blacktop-capped former landfill at the north end of 28th Street. The result will be new places for recreation and access to the American River.
“Last week, the Sacramento City Council approved $1.2 million in bond funds for the project's first phase, which will include a 4-acre landscaped dog park, basketball, handball and bocce ball courts, and improved river access points.
“Constructing a landscaped park atop a landfill is a complex proposition, and Sutter's Landing will be the first of its kind in the region, Cohn said.”
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Parkway Taxes & The Supercollider
1) As the somewhat dormant plan—for the moment anyway—to increase taxes on adjacent property owners to pay for the long-term funding deficit for the Parkway, it is instructive to read about how many people are responding to ever-increasing taxes in the two already highest-taxed states, California and New York, which this article does.
An excerpt.
“Anyone who thinks the path to "fiscal discipline" is through higher taxes ought to look at the current budget spectacles in New York and California. The two liberal states have among the highest tax burdens in the country, yet both now find themselves with huge budget deficits and are debating still higher taxes to close the gap.
“California has the highest state income tax rate in the country (10.3%), while New York State also has a high income tax rate (6.85%), with the combined state and city rate rising to 10.5% in New York City. Their overall government spending totals also happen to top the national charts. And, what do you know, California is $15 billion in the red this year while New York is trying to close a $6.4 billion 2009 budget hole, which budget expert E.J. McMahon of the Manhattan Institute expects to grow to $26 billion over three years…
“The politicians who want all these new taxes are the same ones who scratch their heads and wonder why so many hedge funds are already based in Connecticut, or why Manhattan is losing its status as financial capital of the world. So far the only voice of reason has been Democratic Governor David Paterson, who has attacked the tax increase and wants spending cuts first.
“Mr. Paterson knows what he's talking about, as New York State spending has climbed by 45% in the last five years, according to the Manhattan Institute. As for California, its spending soared to $145 billion in 2008 from $104 billion in 2004. Every time the politicians raise taxes, they merely lift their spending by as much or more, and then plead poverty and demand another tax hike during the next economic slowdown.
“The "progressives" who dominate politics in these states target the rich on grounds that they have the ability to pay. They also have the ability to leave. From 1997-2006, New York State lost 409,000 people (not counting foreign immigrants). For every two people who move into the state, three flee. Maybe the problem for New York is merely bad weather, not high taxes.
“Except that sunny California is experiencing a similar exodus. Over the past decade 1.32 million more native-born Americans left the Golden State than moved in -- despite beaches, mountains and 70-degree weather. Mostly the people who have fled are the successful, the talented and the rich.”
2) In one of the most wonderful examples of what science can do, the new supercollider is super in many ways, but why did it get built in Europe rather than the United States, the world leader in advanced physics research, until now, as this article explains.
An excerpt.
“At the heart of this debate is a truly mammoth machine, 17 miles in circumference, straddling the French-Swiss border. After $8 billion and 14 years of work by thousands of physicists and engineers, the LHC has finally been fired up. It's purpose is to accelerate two beams of protons to 99.999999% light speed in a huge tube in opposite directions and then slam them into each other to recreate the sizzling temperatures found at the instant of the Big Bang, and thereby unlock the greatest secrets of the universe.
“At the very least, physicists hope to find a new particle, called the Higgs boson, the last piece of the Standard Model of particles. But some physicists hope to do even better. The LHC might shed light on the "theory of everything," a single theory which can explain all fundamental forces of the universe, a theory which eluded Albert Einstein for the last 30 years of his life. This is the Holy Grail of physics. Einstein hoped it would allow us to "read the Mind of God."
“Today, the leading (and only) candidate for this fabled theory of everything is called "string theory," which is what I do for a living. Our visible universe, according to this theory, represents only the lowest vibration of tiny vibrating strings. The LHC might find something called "sparticles," or super particles, which represent higher vibrations of the string. If so, the LHC might even verify the existence of higher dimensions of space-time, which would truly be an earth-shaking discovery.
“But why, some ask, is this machine being built in Europe, and not the U.S.? President Ronald Reagan originally wanted to build a much larger machine, called the Super Conducting Super Collider, outside Dallas, Texas, to maintain U.S. leadership in advanced physics. Congress allotted $1 billion to dig a huge circular hole for the machine. But Congress got cold feet and cancelled it in 1993. Then Congress gave physicists another $1 billion to fill up the hole! As a consequence, Congress guaranteed that leadership in advanced physics would pass from the U.S. to Europe.”
An excerpt.
“Anyone who thinks the path to "fiscal discipline" is through higher taxes ought to look at the current budget spectacles in New York and California. The two liberal states have among the highest tax burdens in the country, yet both now find themselves with huge budget deficits and are debating still higher taxes to close the gap.
“California has the highest state income tax rate in the country (10.3%), while New York State also has a high income tax rate (6.85%), with the combined state and city rate rising to 10.5% in New York City. Their overall government spending totals also happen to top the national charts. And, what do you know, California is $15 billion in the red this year while New York is trying to close a $6.4 billion 2009 budget hole, which budget expert E.J. McMahon of the Manhattan Institute expects to grow to $26 billion over three years…
“The politicians who want all these new taxes are the same ones who scratch their heads and wonder why so many hedge funds are already based in Connecticut, or why Manhattan is losing its status as financial capital of the world. So far the only voice of reason has been Democratic Governor David Paterson, who has attacked the tax increase and wants spending cuts first.
“Mr. Paterson knows what he's talking about, as New York State spending has climbed by 45% in the last five years, according to the Manhattan Institute. As for California, its spending soared to $145 billion in 2008 from $104 billion in 2004. Every time the politicians raise taxes, they merely lift their spending by as much or more, and then plead poverty and demand another tax hike during the next economic slowdown.
“The "progressives" who dominate politics in these states target the rich on grounds that they have the ability to pay. They also have the ability to leave. From 1997-2006, New York State lost 409,000 people (not counting foreign immigrants). For every two people who move into the state, three flee. Maybe the problem for New York is merely bad weather, not high taxes.
“Except that sunny California is experiencing a similar exodus. Over the past decade 1.32 million more native-born Americans left the Golden State than moved in -- despite beaches, mountains and 70-degree weather. Mostly the people who have fled are the successful, the talented and the rich.”
2) In one of the most wonderful examples of what science can do, the new supercollider is super in many ways, but why did it get built in Europe rather than the United States, the world leader in advanced physics research, until now, as this article explains.
An excerpt.
“At the heart of this debate is a truly mammoth machine, 17 miles in circumference, straddling the French-Swiss border. After $8 billion and 14 years of work by thousands of physicists and engineers, the LHC has finally been fired up. It's purpose is to accelerate two beams of protons to 99.999999% light speed in a huge tube in opposite directions and then slam them into each other to recreate the sizzling temperatures found at the instant of the Big Bang, and thereby unlock the greatest secrets of the universe.
“At the very least, physicists hope to find a new particle, called the Higgs boson, the last piece of the Standard Model of particles. But some physicists hope to do even better. The LHC might shed light on the "theory of everything," a single theory which can explain all fundamental forces of the universe, a theory which eluded Albert Einstein for the last 30 years of his life. This is the Holy Grail of physics. Einstein hoped it would allow us to "read the Mind of God."
“Today, the leading (and only) candidate for this fabled theory of everything is called "string theory," which is what I do for a living. Our visible universe, according to this theory, represents only the lowest vibration of tiny vibrating strings. The LHC might find something called "sparticles," or super particles, which represent higher vibrations of the string. If so, the LHC might even verify the existence of higher dimensions of space-time, which would truly be an earth-shaking discovery.
“But why, some ask, is this machine being built in Europe, and not the U.S.? President Ronald Reagan originally wanted to build a much larger machine, called the Super Conducting Super Collider, outside Dallas, Texas, to maintain U.S. leadership in advanced physics. Congress allotted $1 billion to dig a huge circular hole for the machine. But Congress got cold feet and cancelled it in 1993. Then Congress gave physicists another $1 billion to fill up the hole! As a consequence, Congress guaranteed that leadership in advanced physics would pass from the U.S. to Europe.”
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Quantifying Environmentalism
A very interesting article from Harvard Business Week.
An excerpt.
“There are many methods, most financial, to measure the success of companies in meeting goals. But the question becomes a lot harder at Harvard Business School when MBAs are challenged to measure the efforts of environmental organizations like Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly the World Wildlife Fund).
“Greenpeace's goal is "to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity" and WWF's is "to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature."
“Has the world become better off environmentally since these organizations were formed? Have they created value in other ways?
"The challenge for a business student is how to put a quantifiable measure on whether these organizations are successful in reaching their goals," says Harvard Business School professor Ramon Casadesus-Masanell.
“HBS Working Knowledge asked Casadesus-Masanell and Jordan Mitchell, a freelance case writer based in Barcelona, to to discuss the background of these cases and how his MBA students react to them.
“Sarah Jane Gilbert: Your research focused on two prominent environmental organizations, Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). What do these two groups have in common, and how are they different?
“Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Jordan Mitchell: The main affinity between Greenpeace and WWF is that both are trying to promote a "public good," which is the improvement of the natural environment. Public goods are those that are non-excludable and non-rival. No one can stop anyone from benefiting from a public good such as cleaner air or uncontaminated water.
“By looking back at the history of how both organizations came to be, we can highlight some key similarities and differences.
“Greenpeace was born in Canada out of an initiative to stop U.S. nuclear testing in Alaska in the early 1970s. The idea was to campaign for peace using an ecological platform; that is, nuclear tests are not only bad for warfare and human death, but testing does irreparable damage to species and landmass. From 1971 to 1974, Greenpeace's main push was on nuclear disarmament. Many early Greenpeace members were journalists and knew how to get across a compelling story. They used the media as their weapon against powerful governments in an attempt to drive policy changes. The Greenpeace methods of "bearing witness," "direct action," and creating a "media mindbomb" became their trademarks as the organization expanded into fights for other environmental causes such as the Save the Whales and the Seal Pup campaigns.
“WWF was founded in response to the destruction of Africa's natural habitat when British biologist Sir Julian Huxley wrote articles in an English newspaper warning that large portions of wildlife would become extinct if no action was taken. The articles attracted attention from scientists, businesspeople, and nongovernmental organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN had been set up in neutral Switzerland in 1948 by 18 governments and 100 NGOs with the objective of coordinating activities to preserve wildlife. As of the early 1960s, however, the IUCN did not have sufficient resources to carry out its projects, which led to the idea to form a new organization focused on fundraising and conservation in coordination with the IUCN. The WWF was constituted in Switzerland in 1961 with the purpose of conserving natural resources by acquiring and managing land while coordinating and communicating the necessity of conservation to a wide number of stakeholders.”
An excerpt.
“There are many methods, most financial, to measure the success of companies in meeting goals. But the question becomes a lot harder at Harvard Business School when MBAs are challenged to measure the efforts of environmental organizations like Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly the World Wildlife Fund).
“Greenpeace's goal is "to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity" and WWF's is "to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature."
“Has the world become better off environmentally since these organizations were formed? Have they created value in other ways?
"The challenge for a business student is how to put a quantifiable measure on whether these organizations are successful in reaching their goals," says Harvard Business School professor Ramon Casadesus-Masanell.
“HBS Working Knowledge asked Casadesus-Masanell and Jordan Mitchell, a freelance case writer based in Barcelona, to to discuss the background of these cases and how his MBA students react to them.
“Sarah Jane Gilbert: Your research focused on two prominent environmental organizations, Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). What do these two groups have in common, and how are they different?
“Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Jordan Mitchell: The main affinity between Greenpeace and WWF is that both are trying to promote a "public good," which is the improvement of the natural environment. Public goods are those that are non-excludable and non-rival. No one can stop anyone from benefiting from a public good such as cleaner air or uncontaminated water.
“By looking back at the history of how both organizations came to be, we can highlight some key similarities and differences.
“Greenpeace was born in Canada out of an initiative to stop U.S. nuclear testing in Alaska in the early 1970s. The idea was to campaign for peace using an ecological platform; that is, nuclear tests are not only bad for warfare and human death, but testing does irreparable damage to species and landmass. From 1971 to 1974, Greenpeace's main push was on nuclear disarmament. Many early Greenpeace members were journalists and knew how to get across a compelling story. They used the media as their weapon against powerful governments in an attempt to drive policy changes. The Greenpeace methods of "bearing witness," "direct action," and creating a "media mindbomb" became their trademarks as the organization expanded into fights for other environmental causes such as the Save the Whales and the Seal Pup campaigns.
“WWF was founded in response to the destruction of Africa's natural habitat when British biologist Sir Julian Huxley wrote articles in an English newspaper warning that large portions of wildlife would become extinct if no action was taken. The articles attracted attention from scientists, businesspeople, and nongovernmental organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN had been set up in neutral Switzerland in 1948 by 18 governments and 100 NGOs with the objective of coordinating activities to preserve wildlife. As of the early 1960s, however, the IUCN did not have sufficient resources to carry out its projects, which led to the idea to form a new organization focused on fundraising and conservation in coordination with the IUCN. The WWF was constituted in Switzerland in 1961 with the purpose of conserving natural resources by acquiring and managing land while coordinating and communicating the necessity of conservation to a wide number of stakeholders.”
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