SN&R readers comment on Oak Park neighborhood's development, the drought and Sacramento Kings arena conflicts of interest

Oak Park and gentrifaction

Re “Oak Park’s new kicks” by Lovelle Harris (SN&R Feature Story, February 13):

This was an interesting article. I lived in Oak Park for nearly 19 years, and I saw a lot of positive changes throughout. But I never considered Oak Park to be a ghetto. Maybe the perception is that it's occupied by mostly people of color, particularly black people, and that tag seems to be fitting for most people who live outside of the area. The latest demographic census shows that whites have migrated to this neighborhood in droves, and black dwellers actually decreased. There is also a moderate percentage of Hispanics and Asians who occupy Oak Park. I do believe that Oak Park is heading in the direction of gentrification, because you see new homes being built, renovation of older homes, and a few influx of businesses. Gentrification would've came much sooner if it wasn't for the recession that hit in 2007. There is still some crime, but its seems to be branching out in all areas of Sacramento. But I love the diversity of Oak Park, and I hope it continues to be revitalized.

Anthony Jordan

Sacramento

Caring for Oak Park

Re “Oak Park’s new kicks” by Lovelle Harris (SN&R Feature Story, February 13):

In 2012, I relocated my studio and gallery into Oak Park right beside The Broadway Triangle, the Patris Studio and Art Gallery. I am so excited to be part of my community here in Oak Park as a resident and business owner: It’s a great place to live, work, and play with so many wonderful and interesting people. I have seen a lot of changes since I first moved in, but the one constant factor through all of this change has been the strong core of community-minded residents who are passionate about Oak Park and work together to create a better place.

Patris

via email

A bridge to Costco

Re “No passage” by Nick Miller (SN&R News, February 13):

Let me say, first off, I’m not in favor of this project. But if it is built, what is needed is not a third access route from Midtown or East Sacramento, but rather a bridge across the American River to the area of Costco.

Not only would this channel some of the traffic away from the residential neighborhoods on the south side of the river, but it would also have the secondary advantage of providing a nonfreeway route for East Sacramento residents to the Royal Oaks area. Sure, this traffic would be passing through the new neighborhood, but isn’t that a fair trade for the additional traffic in the McKinley Park area?

Steve Miller

East Sacramento

4,000 bad jobs?

Re “Conflicts of interest” by Nick Miller (SN&R Editor’s Note, February 13):

Please explain to me why we should be going after all these low-pay, no-benefit, no-future jobs that are part and parcel of the arena, hotels, shops and restaurants?They are called “service sector” jobs for a reason: They service the powers that be.

Karen Solberg

Sacramento

Nuclear energy solves drought?

Re “Beyond a reasonable drought” by Alastair Bland (SN&R Feature Story, February 6):

We are in a severe drought, and the longest drought in our history lasted 300 years. During that drought, people were born, lived and died without ever having seen rain. California currently consumes 40 million acre-feet of fresh water per year. Nuclear reactors, powering modern reverse-osmosis desalination plants, could provide us with this amount of fresh water at $400 per acre-foot. That is what the rest of the world is doing. We would never fear drought again.

But wait! Nuclear reactors are illegal in California! Deuteronomy advises us not to drink sand when thirsty! Let our politicians pass a law, which allows us to drink sand when thirsty! This would be the most innovative thing they could do!

Arthur Collins

Rio Linda

Corrections

SN&R neglected to identify Dave Estis as co-founder of Oak Park Brewing Company in last week’s cover story (“Oak Park’s new kicks” by Lovelle Harris).

In last week’s News story on McKinley Village (“No passage” by Nick Miller), the writer incorrectly reported the number of vehicle trips the project would generate each day, according to the city environmental report. The correct number is 3,500.