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Category: Letters to the Editor

  • Citrus Heights Letters: Vaccine passport ban, mandates, freedom

    Latest letters from Citrus Heights Sentinel readers offer varying perspectives on City Councilman Bret Daniels recent proposal to adopt a resolution banning vaccine passports in the city and prohibiting any vaccination requirements for city employees, as well as opposing mask mandates in schools.

    See related story: Citrus Heights councilman proposes ban on city vaccine mandates, passports

    Vaccines help keep people from dying
    I am very much opposed to those council members that are so blind that they can not recognize the seriousness of COVID-19. Vaccines are helping people stay alive, wearing masks help prevent the spread of this virus. (Hope Mr. Daniels covers his mouth when he is coughing!) I believe in science. Why are you opposed to the CDC’s directives. I will definitely support Daniels and work to unseat him.
    -Margie B. Cook, Citrus Heights

    Seat belts are mandatory too
    The reaction to the covid vaccines and this “assault on our liberty and freedom” echoes back to when they were making seat belts mandatory. Imagine that? Life saving technology that we now don’t question.

    I am personally for the freedom of choice. But that choice comes with consequences as most do. If you want to exercise that right, then be all means. But your right to choose should not put other people at risk of catching a disease that we still don’t know the long term effects of.

    We are still in this pandemic because of the resistance to bunker down and deal with mild discomfort. If we all just “buck up” and “man up” we should be able to endure anything. But it seems some, for lack of a better term, snowflakes want to ruin things for our community.
    -Sean Beck, Citrus Heights

    Vaccine mandates violate Constitution
    I personally believe vaccine mandates and Vaccine passports are both a violation of the constitution and the Geneva Convention.
    -Crystal Keeler, Citrus Heights

    I feared vaccine at first, but not anymore
    Thankful when chicken pox and polio were rampant when I was a small child that people stepped up to take the shots that eradicated the disease and didn’t think of their own personnel safety; it was really tough seeing people in the iron lung and dying. I am 85 and didn’t want to get the virus shot because I was afraid what it would do to me, but I have taken all 3 shots. not for me but for you all of you out there I didn’t want to infect. It’s time we think of protecting others and not ourselves. Please Mr. Daniels do not carry this any further I have lost too many friends from this awful disease.
    -Carol Alexander, Citrus Heights

    Vaccine mandates a reminder of USSR
    I am a resident of Citrus Heights for almost two decades now. It has been good living here and enjoying what this unique city has to offer, and I am thankful for it. I was born and raised in the Eastern European region, which was dominated by the USSR for the better part of the 20th century. Government mandates were common, and they were touching every area of life. It was comparable to living in a prison…

    The main argument for the ban (on vaccine passports and mandates) in my opinion is that it will send a signal to those in power that will remind them that they overreached. We The People are the ones that choose them, and not the other way around! If the local towns of Germany banned Nazi mandates for Jews to wear yellow stars, they would never be able to round them up and take them to concentration camps. If the local towns of Ukraine resisted Stalin’s mandates to seize the grain and provisions from the farmers to increase export, the Holodomor (artificial famine) of 1933 that took the lives of 20 million Ukrainians, would never happen.

    It may sound too extreme and alarmist, but if you read Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the man who was sentenced to forced labor in the Gulag and later exposed and morally defeated the USSR, you will understand that it CAN happen here… I hope that my fellow Americans would listen and stand up to big government’s bullying early enough to nip it in the bud. *Edited due to length going beyond 250-word limit
    -Victor Baci, Citrus Heights

    *Editor’s Note: The Sentinel welcomes letter to the editors or opinion columns for publication. To submit one online, click here.

  • Citrus Heights Letters: roaming rabbits, cat feces, city salaries, fireworks

    Latest letters from Citrus Heights Sentinel readers discuss rabbits at Sylvan Oaks Library, problems with cat feces, fireworks policy, and city manager salary comparisons.

    Leave the rabbits alone; do something about cats
    [RE: More than 35,000 sign petition to rescue rabbits outside Citrus Heights library; July 18th]  I think they should leave the rabbits alone as the kids love them. I know my two do. Instead, some thing needs to be done about cats. People have to clean up after their dogs, but noone cleans up after cats.

    Every year it’s worse. You can not go one your lawn with out stepping in (feces). I/we pay property taxes and can’t let our kids play on or own lawns. Our yards are turning into a hazmat hazard. Animal control said nothing can be done because COVID, and after that they will catch, fix and release back where caught.

    So you’re telling us our yards and house payments will be a cats litter box for the next decade or so. Who is going to pay to remove all the cat dirt and urine dirt then re-landscape? So kids can play just to have more cats come and (defecate) more. What about resale: Do you want to buy a house for top dollars when the yards smell of cats?

    Last of all, if I pay a trapper, then the city wants me to pay them to take the cats. Unfair to home owners.
    -Donald Benson, Citrus Heights

    Rabbits bring joy
    We moved to Citrus Heights 24 years ago and soon discovered the rabbits at the Sylvan Oaks Branch of the Sacramento Library. I loved to watch them hop about and noticed others left food for them. When my granddaughter was born, of course I took her in a stroller to see the rabbits. The joy of her laughter and her small voice saying bunny. For me, rabbits at Sylvan Library are a tradition here in Citrus Heights, and shame on non-residents coming into our fair city to remove animals that are beloved.
    -Linda Simons, Citrus Heights

    Don’t ban safe and sane fireworks
    [Citrus Heights News Briefs: banning fireworks, fatal collision, obituary; July 11th]  …I would like to suggest that the state and federal authorities enforce the penalties for those individuals who bring in the out of state fireworks. Eliminating safe and sane fireworks would not allow charities to raise needed money like they have done successfully for years.
    -Victoria Clark, Citrus Heights

    Don’t compare Folsom to Citrus Heights
    [How much do City of Citrus Heights employees make? July 11th]  It is not fair to compare the Folsom city manager position to Citrus Heights. The City of Folsom provides more service and has a lot more employees and a far larger budget.
    They have their own public parks, we do not.
    They have their own fire department, we do not.
    They have their own trash service. We do not.
    -William Shirley, Citrus Heights

    *Editor’s Note: The Sentinel welcomes letter to the editors or opinion columns for publication. To submit one online, click here.

  • Citrus Heights Letters: Palm trees, code enforcement, inconsistency

    File photo, a circle of palm trees are located inside a roundabout on Stock Ranch Road, near Citrus Heights City Hall. // CH Sentinel

    Latest letters from Citrus Heights Sentinel readers include varying perspectives on palm trees being cited by Code Enforcement, following the publication of a June 13 article about a local resident’s dispute with the city over a palm tree.

    Code violations are unevenly enforced
    It seems that Code Enforcement is selective and sometimes blind. Twice it’s happened on my street; a violation for a motor home in the driveway, when right across the street was a 5th wheel doing the same thing. Then we were cited because our lawn was too long. Never could find the statute and length required. It was about 8-10 inches.

    We mowed it of course. But across the street the entire front yard was severely overgrown, at least a foot and more in places. Other properties were also overgrown. Other motor homes and trailers are in front yards and on the streets.

    I personally don’t care what my neighbors do as long as safety isn’t in question. But the city needs to evenly enforce code violations, and maybe educate and talk to the owners before citing them.

    One owner was suffering from multiple family medical issues and needed help. A group of us from the Nextdoor app cleaned up the entire property for her. And BP Tree trimming picked up all the yard waste for free. Wonderful business. Helping your constituents instead of penalizing them would certainly help in these trying times.

    Disposal of palm fronds is difficult
    This happened to us as well. When we took the first load to the garbage waste management we waited for over an hour paid $40 and was told to put them into the garbage area. Then we got a clean up day and they were out there measuring our pile and said they could not take them. We got stuck with them and have been cutting them up each week. What irritates me is we got that abatement letter, but there is 4-5 other homes that haven’t cleaned up theirs either. We are still stuck with them.
    -Linda Mezzanatto, Citrus Heights

    About those palms near City Hall…
    Who is responsible for the maintenance of the palms on Fountain Square Drive? There are fronds that get blown off by the winds regularly… I guess that so far nature is in charge of trimming.
    -Ian Garber, Citrus Heights

    Palm trees at City Hall could use a trim
    My question to Citrus Heights City Hall is why this even happened? If you drive past City Hall, the street is lined with palm trees: they haven’t been trimmed in along time, they look horrible. If you drive around our city, people that do have these trees don’t touch them. Not just palm trees, neighbors letting their hedges and trees overgrow where people can’t see stop signs, or have to pull out beyond safely to see oncoming traffic or to walk into the street to get past. I see this all the time and nothing is done.
    -Joyce Mack-Ashmus, Citrus Heights

    *Editor’s Note: The Sentinel welcomes letter to the editor or opinion columns for publication. To submit one online, click here.

  • LETTERS: Citrus Heights stimulus money, Sunrise Mall

    LETTERS: Citrus Heights stimulus money, Sunrise Mall

    Latest letters from Citrus Heights Sentinel readers include criticism of the city’s 20-year plan for Sunrise Mall and comments about how federal COVID-19 funds should be spent.

    COVID-19 money should go to support police
    [RE: Could relief funds help restore Citrus Heights police cuts, repave roads?, May 23rd] I don’t have too much confidence in the major majority, 3/5 of our chosen leaders, who sit on our city council, while they vote to tax and spend as they see fit. Just look at our so-called leader’s in Washington D.C., many of whom couldn’t even balance their own checkbooks!

    I can only hope and pray that they (Citrus Heights City Council) use our government stimulus money on worthwhile causes, like our men and women in BLUE, who put their lives on the line to assist us, every single day!!
    God bless them and our military!
    -Mark Mitchell, Citrus Heights

    Sunrise Mall plan is a ‘pie in the sky’ idea
    [RE: City update highlights growth, redevelopment opportunity in Citrus Heights; May 13th]  Surprised the city’s Nichole Baxter and Meghan Huber are not floating higher on the hot air — pie in the sky 20-year redevelopment plans for our failed Sunrise Mall… They’ve never mentioned one single person with a buck in their pocket who has any interest to pay for the first few shovels and nails. Maybe we should do another street corner boot drive with their high heels, or ask “Sleepy Joe” and “Commyla” for another billion from the treasury deficit.

    Any idea who’s up first to fund the hypothetical mall action? And, when does the mall movie theater re-open… and the rear parking pavement has turned into ground sand with plenty of broken glass for the rear apartment kids’ bare feet. 20-plus years for full redevelopment; half of these readers will be pushing up daisies… but I’ll try to be optimistic right with you.

    Editor’s note: The Sentinel’s policy is to publish every letter received. Those interested in submitting a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication can do so by clicking here.

  • LETTER: City manager’s retirement sudden, but not surprising

    By Beryl Turner, Citrus Heights–
    [RE: Citrus Heights city manager announces retirement; May 14th] Just discovered news of the Citrus Heights City Manager’s retirement on May 11. That was sudden, but not surprising. I feel he quit (jumped ship), unable to handle the city’s financial problems that he was partially responsible for and was unable to manage.

    When he took over from Henry Tingle, his predecessor, I had high hopes for Manager Chris Boyd who was previously our police chief, but have been disappointed in his running of the city for some time.

    When he took over as manager, the city was financially secure with millions in reserve. Now the city is in debt; cannot meet their unrealistic budgets; and has many employees earning over $100k annually. Also, a fat part of the General Fund goes to the Police Department. No wonder the city can’t balance their budgets.

    This is a small city. It shouldn’t be that difficult to manage. I hope they hire someone (male or female) to fill this position that has successfully run a city like ours.

    More letter(s):

    Saddened to hear Chris Boyd retiring from city manager. There were areas with disagreement, however he has done a wonderful job. Chris, you will be missed. Warm wishes for you and family!
    -Tamara Paraker, Orangevale/Citrus Heights

    Editor’s note: no other letters were received on this topic. Those interested in submitting a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication can do so by clicking here.

  • LETTERS: City Council pay, roadway improvements

    LETTERS: City Council pay, roadway improvements

    A visual presented during a City Council meeting last year shows how plans for sidewalks and bike lanes on Old Auburn Road could look.

    Latest letters to the editor include comments from Citrus Heights residents on planned roadway improvements, and City Council pay.

    City Council pay, benefits
    [RE: Citrus Heights releases 108-page proposed city budget, with cuts. Here’s what’s in it; April 16th] I would like to clarify the section on City Council compensation. City Council members in general law cities, like Citrus Heights, have their compensation set by the State legislature at a rate of $600 per month. In addition, the City of Citrus Heights provides an additional $600 per month in benefits to City Council members, that can be taken as health insurance, deferred compensation, etc. We also get vision and dental insurance, as well as mileage when we use our personal vehicle to city related functions and meetings.
    – Jeannie Bruins, Citrus Heights City Council member

    Looking forward to Old Auburn Road improvements
    [RE: Citrus Heights awarded $11.1 million in grants to fund roadway projects; April 22nd]  I am a senior citizen who enjoys bike rides and evening walks with my wife. We live just off Garry Oaks and frequently enjoy walking/riding the trail from Garry Oaks to Robert Creek Ct. Traveling the west direction from Antelope to Sylvan Road currently is not an option for us. We don’t feel safe along this section. We are excited to learn of the improvements planned for our area. Which ever plan is ultimately approved will be welcomed by us and I’m sure many others!
    -William Chadwell, Jr., Citrus Heights

    Related article: Final concept plan for Old Auburn Road projected to cost $15-25M

    Editor’s note: no other letters were received on these topics. Those interested in submitting a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication can do so by clicking here.

  • LETTERS: Sylvan Corners, mayor, defunding police

    LETTERS: Sylvan Corners, mayor, defunding police

    Latest letters to the editor include perspectives on development at Sylvan Corners, police department funding, and the City Council.

    Sylvan Corners would make a great ‘downtown’ area
    [RE: City Council votes 4-1 to sell large Sylvan Corners lot to housing developer; Jan. 17th] Citrus Heights City council needs to develop a long term goal! Sylvan Corners would be a prime Downtown Citrus Heights area for development. The Sunrise Mall is being converted to housing soon, if they get their way, and I’m concerned that all the business areas we have now seem to be broke and going under one by one.

    As a citizen of Citrus Heights I want to send my money and pay taxes for my city, not Folsom or Roseville. If we could decide where and how that could be achieved, rather than randomly installing failing businesses, or sell prime industrial property for housing, let’s develop a plan that would support the growth and development of our community (housing and business).

    Just as Sunrise used to provide a central destination, I feel we need a True Downtown Citrus Heights!
    -Jim Cowger, Jr., Citrus Heights

    Other letters and comments:

    The last thing we need is less police
    [RE: Citrus Heights considering deep cuts to police in effort to balance budget; Jan. 31st] When we heard the city’s idea to balance the budget by defunding the police department, we were appalled! With the exorbitant salaries the city officials make, that’s their idea? Right now the community is hurting enough. The last thing we need is less police.

    To make more than the governor of the state is not okay, and a waste of city funds. All my neighbors agree the city managers need to re-evaluate the situation and do the right thing for the people of Citrus Heights by adjusting their pay, not by taking away our already slim services.
    -Diane McCarty, Citrus Heights

    Clowns in control
    [RE: Guest Column; Feb. 11th] David Warren is who we need to run our City! If he needs any help ,just please do us all a huge favor… Don’t consult with the clowns we have running it now!
    -Mark Mitchell, Citrus Heights

    Want to share your own thoughts on this topic or another local issue? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • LETTERS: Is Citrus Heights joining the ‘Defund the Police’ movement?

    LETTERS: Is Citrus Heights joining the ‘Defund the Police’ movement?

    By Jim Monteton, Citrus Heights–
    [RE: Citrus Heights considering deep cuts to police in effort to balance budget; Jan. 31st] So, let me get this straight: the city can borrow $12 million, buy property at Sylvan Corners, start planning on building more “round abouts,” give themselves a huge raise where the city manager now makes more than the governor – and now want to cut out security by eliminating police officers.

    As cited in The Sentinel story, analysis of 2019 city salaries from California’s Public Pay website found total pay to city staff amounted to $19 million that year, meaning an across-the-board pay cut of 10% would have saved about $1.9 million that year.

    The City Council’s comments: “We can’t make magic money appear, so we’re going to have to make do with what we have.” But as with any budget – house, business or city – you don’t keep spending more than you make. When asked about pay cuts, the city said: “At this time, staff pay cuts are not being considered.” But neither is our safety.

    So, I guess that there will be a time in the near future when we will call City Hall to report someone breaking in our home, stealing our car, or murder. Sounds like the start of “Defund the Police.”
    -Jim Monteton, Citrus Heights

    Cut salaries, not police
    It always amazes me that government always wants to cut the most important services when they want more money, and Citrus Heights is no different. A few years ago the city had a surplus of money; now they want more money. So because they are angry that Measure M didn’t pass they are going to threaten us with cutting police. Maybe they should have spent the money a little wiser.

    Cut services less vital to us or cut the big salaries of city employees and maybe cut unnecessary positions and spending. You already charge residents and businesses for every little thing we want to do. Be better stewards of our money!
    -Cheryl Greene, Citrus Heights

    Editor’s note: No other letters were submitted on this topic. To submit a letter for publication, click here.

  • LETTERS: Housing at Sylvan Corners is a stupid idea

    LETTERS: Housing at Sylvan Corners is a stupid idea

    Sylvan Corners, Citrus Heights
    File photo, Sylvan Corners.

    By Curtis Manes, Citrus Heights–
    [RE: City Council votes 4-1 to sell large Sylvan Corners lot to housing developer; Jan. 17th] Who the heck came up with that idea? That has to be the stupidest thing that I’ve ever heard of.

    Who in their right mind would buy a 35×50-foot or a 40×50-foot lot to build a home on? And at $300,000 to $400,000 as reported. That’s the size of my two-car garage.

    The city should have held onto that property because the Sylvan elementary school is going to have to expand in the years to come as the area population grows. Why wasn’t the public allowed to vote on this instead of the politicians running this city?

    *Editor’s note: Potential lot sizes described by the developer are 35×75-foot and 40×75-foot.

    More Letters and Comments:

    Mark M.– Once again our leaders have spoken, by selling the property they purchased with our tax dollars! Who was the clown that decided to vote no on this sale, just curious? Get your job back when the circus comes to town and move on! Thanks!

    Keri L.– I have yet to hear from one person who thinks this is a good idea.

    Ed G.– Looks like another failure by the city. Instead of a mixed use and maybe some land for the cemetery nothing but a fancy condo project. At least the city can get out of this debacle at a little better than break even.

    See more comments on The Sentinel’s Facebook page: facebook.com/CitrusHeightsSentinel

  • LETTER: I was hospitalized with COVID-19. I still have questions

    LETTER: I was hospitalized with COVID-19. I still have questions

    By Jim Monteton, Citrus Heights–
    A lot of talk about counties and what color they are this week. Then we hear a lot about hospital’s and their capacities — not which counties or which hospitals.

    For the citizen of the cities in Sacramento county, not much is mentioned about their run-in with the virus and how it has changed them.

    There are at least 20 different items that are mentioned and 20 different doctors’ opinions, but no substantial hard information that is consistent and doesn’t change.

    Questions like: if you get COVID-19, are the antibodies enough to keep you safe or do you still need the vaccine? If you have had COVID-19 will you test positive – forever? If you are fine, will you still test positive and can you never travel on an airplane?

    Right now COVID-19 patients can go to the emergency for one day and then sent home for a 10-day quarantine. Is that really treating them or keeping the ICU numbers up?

    I am not basing that this backyard gossip, but on fact. On Dec. 19, I HAD COVID-19. I was rushed to the emergency with COVID Pneumonia and Chronic Heart Failure. Came close to death.

    One day later when I was stabilized, they sent me home and told me to “self-quarantine.” In two days, I was rushed back to the emergency – this time for a three week stay.

    Can we please hear some factual and consistent information that we can use to build our future on?

    *Editor’s note: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccination is still recommended for those who have had COVID-19, due to the rare possibility of getting reinfected (See FAQ). Data provided by the CDC also indicates a person may continue to test positive for COVID-19 up to 90 days after illness onset. (See CDC link)