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Category: Letters to the Editor

  • Letters: ARCO proposal, plastic bags, new Citrus Heights sports complex?

    Letters: ARCO proposal, plastic bags, new Citrus Heights sports complex?

    Letters to the Editor
    Stock photo, typewriter keyboard. // Pixabay

    Latest letters-to-the-editor include comments from readers about potential new uses for the old Sylvan Middle School property, the proposed new ARCO gas station, and confusion over the plastic bag ban. Submit your own letter to the editor about a current local issue by clicking here.

    Citrus Heights needs a sports complex, water park
    (RE: Demolition of old Sylvan Middle School underway; what’s next?) As a life time resident in Citrus Heights I would love to see a sports complex build in the area, specifically to replace the old Sylvan Middle school. There are a large amount of competitive sports teams that are limited to sports complexs in this particular area for tournaments. Sports tournaments can bring a lot of money to the community. Create an area where children can put the electronics down, get out of the house and involved in sports. Even add a simple water park for parents to walk their children to from the nearby neighborhoods.

    Citrus Heights needs more family oriented attributes to the community, less fast food, less car washes, less shopping and more outdoor activities. If the cost of living in Citrus Heights is going to increase then why not add to the value of our neighborhood?
    -Crissy Fonseca, Citrus Heights

    Old Sylvan needs new complex for children
    (RE: Demolition of old Sylvan Middle School underway; what’s next?)     I understand it is an important move on the part of the San Juan Unified School District to demolish the old Sylvan Middle School. I can only hope that if the City of Citrus Heights purchases the property that it will continue to be treated as the Historical Site of Learning that it truly is and has been for well over a century-and-a-half. I don’t think I would be alone in advocating for a State-of-the-Art New Sylvan Library / Literacy / Activity Center / Sports Center-type of complex for our children to use now and in the future.

    This corner property has been the heartbeat of Citrus Heights; child after child passing through, beginning with Alfred Spooner’s first classroom in 1862. We owe it to our residents to come up with a plan that draws families in, giving them reasons to stay in the Citrus Heights area. They are our investment in our city’s future.
    -Nora Roberts, Citrus Heights

    Confused by plastic bag ban
    I find it interesting and confusing that voters voted to do away with plastic bags, but some retailers, including Walmart are not only using plastic bags, but also charging $.10 for each of them. Voters voted to eliminated them to protect the environment and that has not been done.
    Joan Whittaker, Citrus Heights

    ARCO opponents should buy property or be quiet
    (RE: Residents organize, gather signatures to oppose new ARCO on Sunrise Blvd) The area is commercial already, but the current building is closed and not generating any employment and minimal tax revenue. It’s also private property, yet people who do not own that property are trying to control its use. My position is that the station should be allowed unless the protesters can come up with the cash to buy the property and turn it into something else.
    –    Michael Sugden, Citrus Heights

    Want to submit your own letter to the editor on a current local issue? Click here.

  • Letters: Measure B, crime, roads (Oct. 30, 2016)

    Letters: Measure B, crime, roads (Oct. 30, 2016)

    This week’s letters include comments from readers on crime in Citrus Heights, local candidates, Measure B, taxes and roads. Submit your own letter to the editor about a current local issue by clicking here.

    Measure B is still needed, despite Measure A’s help
    (RE: Guest Opinion: Here’s what they’re not telling you about Measure B) I would like to correct the misinformation that Ms. Desrosiers included in her opinion piece about Measure B. The facts are clear: there is a specific transportation expenditure plan for Measure A that has delivered important improvements in Citrus Heights and throughout the County. Some local improvements include widening and improving Sunrise Boulevard, Greenback Lane and Auburn Boulevard and implementing pedestrian and bicycle safety projects. In order to compete for state and federal matching transportation funds counties need to have a local funding source. Citrus Heights has secured over $41 million in grant funding by leveraging Measure A funds since the City’s incorporation. Despite the fact that 99.25% of Measure A revenue has been spent on transportation improvements, there is a backlog of more than $1 billion in Sacramento County for system maintenance and rehabilitation projects. To address this growing need, transportation planners and engineers throughout the County expertly identified local priorities and crafted a plan to ensure that residents benefit as soon as possible. That’s why Measure B prioritizes “fix it first projects” and has strict requirements to ensure that money is spent on filling potholes and fixing existing infrastructure first. The facts are at: www.citrusheights.net/878/Measure-B, www.sacta.org and www.sacramentogo.com
    -Mike Penrose, West Sacramento
    Director, Sacramento County Department of Transportation

    Measure B isn’t the right answer
    (RE: Guest Opinion: Citrus Heights needs Measure B to plan for the future) Roads are an incredibly valuable resource, and it’s not a question that they take a lot of money to build and repair, that’s a fact. The question is how much money should they need, and where should it come from. Measure B proposes doubling the existing Measure A sales tax increase. I don’t believe this is responsible because of both the time frame, the amount of money, and the source of the funding. 30 years and an estimated $3.6 billion isn’t what I would call a “stop gap” to repair existing infrastructure, especially when it comes out of sales tax which burdens the local economy.
    Our transportation system may be in varying levels of need for repair and expansion, but I’m not convinced Measure B is the right answer to those problems. Especially considering increasing taxes is usually a one way activity and isn’t easily undone. Once taxes rise, they rarely decrease.
    Measure A is already currently focused heavily on repair, so raising taxes for three decades to solve a present problem is speculation on the future. Let’s skip Measure B overkill, and work on a solution that doesn’t cause financial potholes just to fix real ones.
    -Gabe Lewis, Citrus Heights

    Crime has gotten worse in Citrus Heights
    (RE: Fact Check: candidate claims Citrus Heights among top ‘least safe’ cities; but is it?) What Bret Daniels states is true about crime in Citrus Heights. It has increased, greatly. I have lived here for 45 years and 100 percent state that not only has it become worse, crime, but the type of crimes have become worse. CHPD also decides what crimes to follow up on, burglaries, harassment from neighbors, regardless of the type of harassment, is ignored. I don’t know what crimes they go after but murders are one of them which we didn’t ever have 45 years ago and not until we became a city 20 years ago. Crime has greatly increased and Bret Daniels would know since we were covered by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department back in 1995, 21 years ago. And police departments would all know too.
    -Dina Padilla, Citrus Heights

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  • Letters: red light cameras, elections, homeless shelters, Henry Tingle

    Letters: red light cameras, elections, homeless shelters, Henry Tingle

    This week’s letters include comments from residents on homeless shelters, Henry Tingle’s retirement as city manager, local elections, and red light cameras in Citrus Heights.

    Citrus Heights should offer homeless shelter, resources
    (RE: Letters, Oct. 2) I would like to add my take on the homelessness in our city. Citrus Heights doesn’t have any resources for these people to get and use. Of course, they can travel down to Loaves and Fishes for these things, but this does not work for two reasons. One they are homeless, if they have $6 for bus/light rail, they will use it for food. Two, they don’t want to be downtown or can’t travel there for medical reasons. Citrus Heights has become large enough to offer these resources as well as finding somewhere in our city to place a shelter or two. We spend large amounts of money on things that are not quite as important as this. Not all homeless people are drug addicts. They are homeless because maybe they originally lost their jobs due to cut backs, which led to them losing their homes which leads to them having to live in either their cars or if they don’t have a car on the street. They don’t want to be there but can’t get themselves out on their own. Assistance with shelter and showering availability would go a long way toward getting off the street. Sure, you will always have those who prefer to be homeless for whatever their reasons and all the resources in the world will not help those who don’t want to be helped. Concentrate on those who want and would benefit from resources.
    -Kathie Gindling, Citrus Heights

    Kozlowski can’t be trusted
    I have to wonder why a candidate backed by the political establishment, with all their money (almost $150K in the primary) and supposed savvy, could “forget” to file a Statement of Candidate Qualifications – the most critical document that goes to every single voter. Yet in the Official Guide there is no statement from Mike Kozlowski.
    Perhaps it was a strategic move to avoid a legal challenge to Mike’s previous misleading public statements about being a businessman and an architect – both of which we now know are not true. Mike also claimed to oppose raising taxes, yet at the Citrus Heights Chamber debate stated that he supports the $3 Billion sales tax hike.
    If Mike wasn’t telling the truth when he made those statements, how can we trust him to represent us as Sacramento County Supervisor?
    Campaign filings show that over 95% of Kozlowski’s money came from a single special interest — almost $150,000 in “independent expenditures” — from a Political Action Committee called Region Builders. Kozlowski was listed as a Board Member of the group.
    We need to elect leaders who we can trust to tell us the truth, who have a record of accomplishment, and who are committed to stand up for District 4 residents. Mike Kozlowski fails all those tests. (Edited for excessive length)
    –    Bob Pitvorec, Citrus Heights

    Thoughts on red light cameras, schools
    (RE: Likely voters list 4 top candidates after Citrus Heights council forum, Sept. 21) It appeared that several of the Citrus Heights council candidates were concerned about the quality of education in our city. What, if anything, do they think they could do to improve the school system in our city as council members? It doesn’t matter if they are elected to the council or not — why don’t they run for school board?
    Also, Citrus Heights has red light cameras yet they claim that they don’t reap but little rewards? Do they cut down on accidents? A right turn on red (failure to stop at a red light) costs $480, plus you need to go to traffic violator’s school, which carries a separate fee. What are the stats on right turn on red causing accidents? What is history of red light cameras in Citrus Heights?
    -Tonya Wagner, Citrus Heights

    Henry Tingle left a good legacy
    Henry Tingle was our city manager for 16 years. But for Henry, being city manager was not just a job — it was a mission. When he learned a new city was being formed, he wanted to be part of it and started as head of General Services Dept. When our interim city manager left, Interestingly Henry was not the council’s 1st choice for city manager. The 1st two picks turned down the offer! And the good Lord sent us Henry. Although he did not live IN Citrus Heights, he lived FOR our city. He regarded all the residents as members of his family. Henry is leaving a visible footprint in the changes he did to our streetscapes and public buildings. But he is also leaving an invisible handprint on the values he promoted in our policies: integrity, teamwork, fiscal responsibility, life balance and more. Henry, take a rest — your mission was successfully completed.
    –    Dr. Jayna Karpinski-Costa, Citrus Heights
    Former councilmember and mayor

    Want to submit your own letter to the editor on a current local issue? Click here.

  • Letters: homelessness, elections, crime, safety

    Letters: homelessness, elections, crime, safety

    Letters to the Editor
    Stock photo, typewriter keyboard. // Pixabay

    The Sentinel recently began accepting Letter-to-the-Editor submissions to encourage community dialogue and give our readers a chance to make their voice heard on current local issues. Here’s the first batch of letters from residents, weighing in on homelessness, local elections, crime, and safety in Citrus Heights.

    Local candidates should focus on solving homeless problem in Citrus Heights

    (Re: Likely voters list 4 top candidates after Citrus Heights council forum, Sept. 21) Let’s not bury our heads in the sand, the homeless population is a huge issue in Citrus Heights! As I read through the candidate statements for City Council I’m shocked at some of the candidates lack of understanding, or willingness to admit, the homeless problem we have in our city. Some don’t mention it all and Mr. Slowey states that we can’t fix it ourselves, it has to be a regional fix. Although we do have a regional homeless problem, to disregard that anything can be done at a city level is short sighted at best.
    The City of Roseville was known as a homeless haven but in the past few years they have changed policy, hired homeless advocates and have a police officer who does nothing but interact and monitor the homeless population. Since these, and other changes, have been made their population has dwindled substantially. Where did they go? Citrus Heights.
    As the election gets closer, I urge residents to read the comments of all candidates and choose those who take our homeless situation seriously.
    –    Brad Staplin, Citrus Heights

    City is safer than ever; Don’t blame candidate for citing inaccurate report

    I attended the candidates forum sponsored by REACH and I think the coverage of the event was accurate, fair and well-written. I do, however, have a comment on the follow-up article: “Fact Check: Candidate Claims Citrus Heights among top ‘least safe’ cities; but is it?” I am by no means a supporter of Mr. Daniels but, in all fairness, I don’t blame him for any inaccuracies of his comment. Because he wants to get elected, he needs to show that our current PD isn’t doing the job and that he will make a difference. He Googled and found an obscure source that supported his position. I don’t expect him to analyze the data in the style of a business professor at Sac State. Just goes to show that you can search and find data to support any viewpoint — there is a lot of wrong info out there. Where Daniels ought to be fact-checked is against the report by the Police Chief that shows crime trends going down in most crime categories. I join the throngs of people that are proud of our Citrus Heights Police Department (that Daniels voted against having). I feel our city residents are safer than we have ever been.
    -Jayna Karpinski-Costa, Citrus Heights
    President, SOAR Neighborhood Association

    Considering move to Placer County to escape crime

    I have lived in Citrus Heights for two years after leaving Orangevale. We left Orangevale due to all the drug dealing and crime that was going on. We thought Citrus Heights would be a safer area with less issues. Initially it was great. We had a much greater police presence. Now we have had robbery of both homes and cars and lots of drug issues. We live by C-Bar-C Park, off Oak Avenue. We are now looking to move to Placer County. There is a reason prices are more expensive there and the police have the time to patrol and keep crimes down. No place is perfect, but at least I will feel safer when walking by myself. I do not feel safe here. Pretty sad.
    –    Mary Alred, Citrus Heights

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