Letters for October 30, 2014

Sac baristas pretentious?

Re “Sacramento’s Specialty Coffee Week is good to the last drop” by Janelle Bitker (SN&R Arts & Culture, October 16):

As a former resident of both Seattle and San Francisco and a newcomer to Sacramento, I appreciate (crave!) a cup of well-crafted coffee. I'm happy to see people in the industry who are passionate about their work and process. But did anyone else find Sean Kohmescher's comments pretentious? Ironic, given that consumer fear of such “artisinal pretension” is addressed only a few paragraphs later. Maybe his desire to educate the illiterate 'bucks-swilling masses about their linguistic errors came across as more patrician than he meant. But to me, it echoes an overall attitude I've experienced from many baristas in specialty coffee shops in Sacramento, which I think is unfortunate. It's great to be passionate, and it's great to educate. But it's also great to realize, among other things, a $4 cup a day is not an economic reality for many people. When it comes down to it, many of us just want our coffee with a smile, whether it's a well-balanced South American blend or a doughnut-shop hazelnut-flavored cuppa.

M Steen

Sacramento

Steinberg says vote Ryan

Re “Another look at the Sacramento City school board races” by Cosmo Garvin (SN&R Bites, October 23):

Bites couldn’t be more right about the need for the city school board to pull together and focus on what’s best for children. But it was dead wrong about candidate Jessie Ryan. Jessie is the kind of rising star—smart, optimistic, generous—that all of Sacramento should embrace. That’s why I knocked on doors recently in a South Sacramento neighborhood to support her campaign. Jessie is a mom and a good neighbor who has great negotiating skills, experience with education policy, and a demonstrated passion for public schools. She’s exactly what the board needs now.

Darrell Steinberg

former state Senate President Pro Tem

Bites needs to listen

Re “Another look at the Sacramento City school board races” by Cosmo Garvin (SN&R Bites, October 23):

Poor Bites. He seems to have lost a few teeth, as he can’t seem to keep reality in his jaws. Clearly, his dislike of Jay Schenirer and Patrick Kennedy has a long history. Who knows if he bothers listening to them? During the looting of parts of Oak Park in the last redistricting process, he certainly did not listen to me, but decided that many fighting the process were in the mayor’s pocket. It never seemed to matter when I assured him that, as the president of the neighborhood association, I was not even communicating with the mayor. Oh well. Listening is not what Bites is about.

So, he lumps Jessie Ryan into the “charter school camp.” Bites, did you ever ask her about her position? If you had, you would know she is proud public-education recipient and has spent years advocating and fighting for public higher education. The only camp she is in is the “what’s best for the children camp.” The California Charter Schools Association Advocates independently (that means no contact with Ryan) is fighting against Linda Tuttle (who has stated that there is no place for charter schools) and is spending money on her opposition. Bites, if you had spoken with Ryan, you would have heard that she has not received any money from charter schools. You would understand that Ryan is an independent thinker who cannot be so easily dismissed.

Michael Boyd

Sacramento