Letters for August 2, 2012

Dirtbag profiling

Re “Steal this bike” by Raheem F. Hosseini (SN&R Feature Story, July 26):

I’ve had a bunch of bicycles stolen in Midtown and environs over the past few years. Hate that. But I am more bothered by Sgt. Andrew Pettit’s apparent approach to dealing with “vagrants” whose bicycles are nicer than he apparently thinks they should be.

Officers confiscate bicycles and make the riders prove ownership before they get them back? Based on what cause? The rider looks like a “dirtbag”? I hope it’s more than that. If not, why not just jail dirtbaggy-looking dudes until they prove they haven’t been breaking any laws?

Charles Barnes
Sacramento

Lock ’em up

Re “Steal this bike” by Raheem F. Hosseini (SN&R Feature Story, July 26):

What a wonderful article, but you don’t mention anything about how to prevent theft. What did all of the “victims” you portrayed have in common? None of them locked their bike.

If you don’t want your bike stolen, then lock it at all times. Never leave your bike unlocked, even for a moment, even at home. A thief doesn’t want to deal with a locked bicycle, because 1. he doesn’t want to carry it, and 2. it can’t be sold legitimately with a lock on it.

A bicycle is the easiest thing in the world to steal, because it also provides a getaway vehicle. Use a good U-lock or [Kryptonite] New York Chain; any cable lock is worthless and can be broken by either bolt cutters or someone who is fairly strong and has good leverage.

Remember, lock your bike!

Mark Vanveenendaal
Sacramento

Send the tamale lady back

Re “Deporting the tamale lady” by Nick Miller (SN&R Frontlines, July 26):

I read this article and have several issues with both its content and the way it was presented.

I moved here from Stockton, where Walmart had the same situation with tamale vendors in the parking lot. I was approached while exiting the store on a continuing basis.

I also ran a business in Stockton, had a business license and paid taxes on my income. Do you think the tamale lady has a business license? I am so fed up with the Mexican [immigrant] population selling products, providing services and requesting cash. With cash transactions, it is very easy to avoid paying taxes on one’s income, and we all lose out.

Second, any legitimate eatery in the Sacramento area not only has a license but also has health inspections. This food, pulled from the back of a trunk, could be a deadly concoction with meat products not being kept at the correct temperatures. Who is regulating this?

Your article was pandering to emotions. Come on, really? With the attorney wiping tamale lady’s tears? Then adding the children on top of it all?

If anyone is here illegally, they need to be sent back, whether they committed a crime or not. My taxes have been and continue to pay for the out-of-control population pouring into the United State illegally. We have many success stories about immigrants coming into the country legally. But this story? Come on.

Vernon Steinkamp
Sacramento

No parking fraud with public transit

Re “What a fraud” by Christopher Arns (SN&R Frontlines, July 19):

Why not mention to the people that complain about parking in downtown Sacramento to maybe think about using the light rail and buses to commute? Do they really need to let a vehicle sit somewhere most of the day? They would save a bunch of money.

David Hegge
Sacramento

Problem is stupid parking rules

Re “What a fraud” by Christopher Arns (SN&R Frontlines, July 19):

After reading this story, I couldn’t help but think of all the frustration of myself and others over the years of the seeming injustice done by the parking system in Sacramento. When I read the statement “an increase of 79 percent [in placard use] since 2001, leaving state and local officials scratching heads as to why,” I had to scoff.

I’ve never abused a disability placard for parking and don’t condone it. But I don’t believe state and local officials are “scratching heads” as to why, though that’s what they’d have us believe. Many people in Sacramento, including myself, have been overcharged and unfairly treated by ridiculous parking regulations, highly overpriced parking fines and late fees, and overzealous meter maids. Most people know that parking regulations and fees are designed not to maintain order with parking, but to line the pockets of overpaid state and local officials. And no one knows that better than state and local officials themselves.

So the line about how baffled state and local officials are as to why people are provoked to “beat the system” when it comes to parking in Sacramento is hard to buy into. I don’t think I’m alone on this, either.

Sonny Iverson
via email

Revolt over the revolting

Re “Doggy poo’s stinky, bagged or not” by Robert N. Austin (SN&R Guest Comment, July 19):

Hooray for Robert N. Austin and his guest commentary against poo bags being tossed on yard-recycling piles!

The city of Sacramento’s solid-waste website clearly states that feces are prohibited in yard-waste piles, whether or not the bag is “recyclable.” The city also sends out yard-waste guidelines via snail mail.

What makes dog owners think that I want their pet’s feces rotting in front of my house for a week or more?

Dennis Hagen
Sacramento

Correction

In last week’s issue, Hugo Vera was incorrectly identified as an attorney (“Deporting the tamale lady” by Nick Miller, SN&R Frontlines, July 26). He is an assistant to attorney Julia Vera. We regret this error, which has been corrected online.