Newest articles on The Sacramento Press written by Jennifer Savin

Working Poor Hit Particularly Hard Now

2008-11-15T16:47:22Z

I'm the first Community Editor for The Sacramento Press, but my full time work is in the social services. I have the sometimes heartbreaking opportunity to learn the intimate details of people's lives- particularly their financial lives. Did you know there are people living in Sacramento who are not at all equipped to weather any hardship? For example, I routinely help people who have an income of $800 a month, and their rent is $500. And they just had a joint replaced at 73 years old. Or they need an anti-biotic that is not covered by Medi-Cal. So they can't pay SMUD this month. And then next month SMUD's $40 instead of $20, and with last month's problems and getting behind....and you could see how this chain of events could lead to disaster with such a small margin of income.

Some of my clients are never going to be able to increase their income because of genuine disability or age. It's also not uncommon for me to help someone who teeters on the edge of homelessness- an injury puts them out of work, which was a part time or a contract job to begin with, and now they're hurt and don't have disability pay and can't really get another job in their current state of health.....you get the picture.

If you are not as bad off as what I've described, maybe you would want to give back to the community- financially. Volunteer hours are great, but consider donating gifts through a giving tree, donating money to an organization where the money would directly benefit those in need, or donating food to a family in need (this can be done through the Food Bank or Wellspring.) And remember, there's a need year-round, not just at the holidays.

Basketball Court Lights & More: City's Press Release

2008-10-28T06:21:10Z

Generations of Sacramentans have known Southside Park as a place for recreational fishing, fun and games with family and friends, and social outings. The Department of Parks and Recreation has embarked on a host of impressive lighting and lakeside enhancements that will make Southside Park even more attractive to current and future generations.

"Southside Park has always been an inviting place to the many neighbors and visitors who have enjoyed its many charms through the years," said Councilmember Rob Fong. "The City's lighting and lakeside improvements to Southside Park are a huge part of our overall investment in Southside Park and will make an already great place even better."

The lighting improvements include:
· 18 historic light structures around the perimeter of the lake
· Several existing light structures relocated to other areas within the park
· Additional lighting at the basketball court

The lighting enhancements will distribute lighting to areas of the park that need additional lighting, enhancing the park's overall safety. Such enhancements are in line with CEPTED principles—Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. The lighting enhancements will be finished this December.

The lakeside improvements include:
· Three new, ADA accessible fishing piers
· Two lawn areas along the lakeside
· Restoration of the lake bank with native shrubs, trees, ground cover, and grasses
· Installation of a three-foot, tubular steel fence around the lake's perimeter

The lakeside improvements will make the lake more accessible for recreational fishing, create ideal locations for picnics and relaxation, and do much to address erosion around the lake. Residents will be able to enjoy the lakeside improvements in early February, 2009. Additional lakeside enhancements are planned for the near future.

Finale

2008-10-25T00:14:06Z

The demolition drew quite a few sidewalk superintendents - me included, of course - who hung around for nearly an hour, waiting for the big bang and crash when the last of the place hit the ground. The company was very careful as it worked - the derelict house was less than 10 feet from an apartment house on its west side.

It Came Down

2008-10-25T00:10:51Z

From Michael Fitzegerald

Between grading papers and dreaming of Mexico, the Admiral and I try to get plenty of exercise by walking, riding our bikes and heading to the Capital Athletic Club where the Admiral and I go almost every day for swimming and to work on the machines.

(OK. I don't go on the machines at all, but I do try to get in a quarter-mile of thrashing through the water. And, no, I missed today, but...)

In my walk this afternoon (to make up for skipping my swim), I ran across a house (506 S Street) a block away that was being torn down, a 100-plus year old casa that had been taken over by some local homeless people. For California, the demolition guys were pretty casual with only a couple of sawhorses out front warning people from getting too close.

Across the street, two city building inspectors talked about what a wreck the house had been and, for a moment, wondered aloud if they had made sure the natural gas line to the place was turned off. (Uh-oh!)

When I heard that, I moved back a few feet.

The house could not be rehabilitated, they said, it's foundation was virtually none existent and dry-rot filled the beams and walls downstairs.

We DID ask for lights...

2008-10-25T00:05:06Z

Great to get that history! Thanks so much (both for your efforts "back in the day" and for telling about it now).
Wrong about "now, no one probably asked", though. We've picked up where you left off and have been pushing Parks & Rec on basketball court lights for the last few years. Then, about a year ago, after the City successfully put together grants for the lakeshore improvement project, Councilmember Rob Fong's office came to us for feedback on the idea of adding decorative lakeside lighting to the project. SPNA's members were very clear that those sounded fine, but not without putting in the long-needed bball lights as well. Fong's office agreed and apparently found a way (ie funding) to do both. And SPNAers (Susan Bush, Bonnie Ratner, and others) have made a point of reminding the City repeatedly so that the bball lights didn't somehow slip through the cracks. I didn't realize until this week's press release that project also include increasing lighting elsewhere in the park for crime reduction, another idea we've been pushing the last few years. If all goes as they say it will, it'll be great in many ways.

More on 506 S

2008-10-25T00:02:40Z

...From Steve V

Yes, it is a shame to lose an old building... but for what it's worth, I think the appearance of that block of S ST. is much improved & puts a better face on that boundary of our neighborhod. I would expect that whatever is built in it's place will still need to go through Historic Preservation review to maintain the character of the neighborhood.

Speaking of saving buildings, 1901 S St (corner of 6th & S) was approved to be demolished. It is in much better condition than 506 S was. I wonder if that should be a topic we revisit in light of these recent events?
There hasn't been recent action on 1901, but the last plans were to demolish it & build office/apartments where there is currently a house. Since a house was demolished by the city just a few yards away, I think we would be justified in revisiting that decision with the city if SPNA wanted to. Just a thought...

Taken down

2008-10-25T00:00:34Z

From Paul Trudeau

Code Enforcement & Councilmember Fong's office both just called SPNA to let us know that the City will be demolishing the historic home at 506 S Street today.

Another historic building lost. Time to focus on putting more teeth into the City's minimum maintenance ordinance in order protect those that remain. There are indications that Fong's office and maybe Code Enforcement are thinking in that direction too.

B-Ball Lights- Some History

2008-10-24T23:56:09Z

Back in 1999, when I first joined SPNA, Tony took me down to the b-ball courts and said something to me like "Look at that. All those guys playing in the shadows while no one's in the tennis courts. We gotta get lights on the courts!" I gathered signatures and Jimmy Yee said he supported it but there was no money. Then, a few years later, the tennis courts were repaved at great expense, but no lights were hooked up for the b-ball courts.

Then, when I worked with the teens they said, "There's no lights on the courts," and we started again. More support but no money.

Now, no one probably asked, but lights are going up. Crazy, beautiful stuff.

Hurray for the lights!