Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Angela Murray

Angela Murray on "Street Interview"

2009-06-05T07:50:48Z

Great article! Right before the recession hit, I took a job making half of what I was making previously, so we had to make some serious adjustments to accomodate that anyway. Now I am used to living with less, and plan to continue that trend - I like the idea of living below my means and keeping material things to a minimum - that gives me peace of mind.

Angela Murray on "Sofa photos from The Sacramento Press and Entreprini Tweetup (part one)"

2009-05-30T06:53:13Z

I'm so disappointed I missed it! It looks like fun!

Angela Murray on "Doggy Dash and Bark in the Park: William Land Park, Saturday"

2009-05-30T06:50:37Z

Thank you! I am headed there in the morning - the schedule is very helpful!

Angela Murray on "Sacramento Regional Transit's continuing budget woes"

2009-05-30T06:40:38Z

Thank you for the insightful and objective article, as well as the link. Based on my experience riding RT the past two years, I believe the fares are well worth the cost - I just wish there was another way to fundraise or balance the budget. When fares increase too much, RT loses riders, and the fares do not generate as much renvenue as might be otherwise anticipated, and the cycle of falling shor tof budget and raising rates continues.

Angela Murray on "Cops Don't Do Doughnuts!"

2009-04-29T02:12:45Z

This is an interesting history! I have long felt that this was an outdated stereotype, not a funny one at that, and it's great to see it addressed here. I see police at many of the places I frequent from coffee shops to sandwich shops - there's not one particular place or food they congregate around - they deserve a break and meal, coffee, or snack just like the rest of us, and the old stereotype just does not have a place in today's society. The analogy of cops and donuts is detrimental to their image, unrealistic, and does not allow for an officer to be an individual. I dislike stereotypes in general, and this is one I'd be especially happy to see become obsolete!

Angela Murray on "Intoxicated man crashes into front of Natomas home with Subaru"

2009-04-29T02:01:53Z

I'm glad no one was hurt, and it is nice to see local news briefs on here.

Angela Murray on "Winners make it happen!"

2009-04-29T02:00:29Z

Is the seminar free of charge? If not this appears to be a sales pitch for the seminar, which would be concerning as I would hope we can keep this venue free of that. If it is a free seminar it is great to know about it but the pitch for it seems strong.

Angela Murray on "Swine flu appears in Sacramento County"

2009-04-29T01:57:38Z

I appreciate this issue being addressed on Sac Press - I have my concerns as well as my doubts in regards to what the media is reporting. The more accurate information I can obtain, the better I feel, though I am not overly worried yet.

Angela Murray on "A brief history: farmers markets promote family farms in Sacramento"

2009-04-24T23:19:50Z

Thank you! The farmer's markets are truly a venue to be appreciated. The abundance, cost, and freshness of the food are not found in all parts of the world, and I believe there are few markets that can truly rival the Sacramento Farmer's Markets.

Angela Murray on "Eat, shop & play to support a good cause"

2009-04-24T23:09:42Z

This is great! It seems like I always learn something new each time I visit the Press!

Angela Murray on "The Sacramento Press policy enforcement change"

2009-04-17T19:25:28Z

Thank you for allowing us such a terrific venue for our local news. I enjoy the active discussions and information provided here!

Angela Murray on "Freedom's for the Dogs"

2009-04-16T23:49:27Z

Creating more dog parks could be a good solution - for me it is challenging, because we have had countless dogs run up to us unattended and we have no idea of their temperment. Once they approach, more of them are friendly than not, and that's fine - it's that initial concern of not knowing the temperment of a dog who is flying up to us and absolutely not responding to their owner's call backs. Our girl has been attacked unprovoked by a dog we were told was friendly, and it was truly an awful experience. As far as leashed dogs sniffing other leashed dogs - I honestly love for our dogs to meet other dogs - and I always ask if it is ok, some people say no, their dog isn't friendly, but most say sure and our dogs get a lot of socialization that way, as well as at the occassional dog park. My issue is not with unleashed dogs in general, it is with unleashed dogs that do not respond to owner's commands, and in dangerous places such as downtown, or even on the river trail with so many bikers and other dogs. I have known dogs that were trained impeccably, and still ran out into the street because of a momentary distraction and got hit and killed. We need to protect them, as well as others and ourselves.

Angela Murray on "Homeless advocates vow to stop the disbanding of Tent City"

2009-04-16T20:31:39Z

This article leaves me wanting more information, but I definitely disagree with the disbanding of tent city. Like Mark, I feel that the area is centrally located and allows them access to get to the programs and resources they need to survive. Moving them accomplishes nothing for either them or the city.

Angela Murray on "Freedom's for the Dogs"

2009-04-16T17:45:47Z

Hi Geoff - honestly, I am not sure what Sacramento as a city can do to enforce it, I just think people overall need to be more repsectful of others and their dogs. I see many, many dogs off leash in downtown, and with the busy streets and many distractions, I am always worried about them. I wouldn't advocate citing peopl, necesarrily, I truly just wish people with off leash dogs would be more considerate about where they are kept off leash. I do not live downtown, I live in a gated community so my local neighborhood is definitely better than at the American River Trail, but we enjoy our walks on the trail and so do the dogs so we should be able to go there without fear of dogs running up to us all the time. Thanks for your reply - I know this won't be a popular stance with many...

Freedom's for the Dogs

2009-04-16T05:26:35Z

Is it really? Apparently, many dog owners seem to think so. I love dogs, and have two precious rescues of my own. They are wonderful companions, though not without their quirks – and as much as we train them – they’re still dogs, and in this instance, like people, they often times have a mind of their own. They like some dogs, and not others - they like some toys, and not others. They uniformly chase squirrels and ducks, and sniff things I couldn’t (and wouldn’t want to) imagine. They each have their own personality, their own likes and dislikes, and while we’d love dogs that always listened to us, we respect their individual personalities, and within limits, like to let dogs be dogs.

With that in mind, when they are out in public with us or in any area where they may encounter people and other dogs that is not a dog park – they’re on a leash. This is out of concern for their safety, and out of respect for other dog owners – though our dogs are friendly, other owners do not know this, and there may always be the one time when they decide they don’t like another dog after they meet him or her, or vice versa. Proponents of off leash dogs possibly have not experienced or witnessed some of the things I have – my own girl being chased by an off leash dog, until the owner finally caught up with us with sincere apologies. Another time in a situation where the caretaker thought the dog was trustworthy; she was attacked leading to a visit to the emergency room. Dogs being dogs, most dogs will want to meet another dog when they see him/her, but the sight of an off leash dog running full sprint and head on at us, is always terrifying – we can’t ascertain the temperament of the dog until it is already upon us, and we cannot escape. Dogs running into the street, dogs chasing squirrels, not returning when called and getting lost, friendly dogs running up to other dogs and getting attacked themselves – what, truly, is the price of a dog’s freedom? His or her life?

There’s loss of freedom from another perspective, as well. We often like to walk our dogs on the American River Trail. It’s beautiful, and we all enjoy it as a family. One beautiful spring day, we had to turn around three times, until we were finally forced off the trail and path we were on, due to constantly running into off leash dogs. We felt as if we lost a little of our own freedom that day. Other people taking liberties because they trust their own dogs meant that we didn’t have the liberty to walk ours where we wanted to.

The human race has chosen to domesticate dogs, and with that choice comes responsibility – the responsibility to respect and protect your pets, and when possible, others. There are areas that are designated for dogs to be able to run off leash and experience the freedom they love – to run and play – and at dog parks you make a choice as do the other owners to take a chance that all dogs will get along – there are also remote areas where a dog can be taken off lead without the possibility of running into people or other dogs, there are even places you can rent that have acres and acres for the dog to run. With that in mind, why risk their freedom or life by having them off lead in public spaces, while similarly taking away the freedom of others?

The following link contains information about Sacramento leash laws:

http://sacdog.org/Efforts/LeashLaws.htm

To those people whose dogs are 100% predictable and controllable at all times without fail or question, with my apologies please disregard.

Angela Murray on "The Sacramento Press welcomes its first staff reporter"

2009-04-16T05:22:25Z

Welcome Kathleen! I look forward to meeting you sometime, hopefully soon!

Angela Murray on "Fantasy and reality collide in RT parking lot"

2009-04-15T00:30:28Z

This is disappointing - I am a proponent of Regional Transit and the excellent job they do with the money they have, but can't make sense of this decision.

Angela Murray on "How is your house?"

2009-04-14T03:23:24Z

I'd love to buy, but we are stuck in our house for a while. As places go, there are worse places to be stuck - I might write a story about our community here. I wish I'd appreciated downtown back when I purchased as much as I do now - I would have made different choices.

Angela Murray on "A Dog's Love"

2009-04-13T23:14:01Z

An edit - my Bella was a stray who appears to have had some traumatic experiences in her life - yet she continues to love and trust people with no inhibition. It was a gift to watch her grow and emerge from her shell as we cared for her and she realized she was safe. To be entrusted to care for an animal is a privilege, and the three years we have had her have been the most joyous of my life.

Angela Murray on "Sacramento residents urged to watch for animal abuse"

2009-04-13T23:11:06Z

Thank you very much for your post and your concern for the animals. It's devastating to see this happening, and I support anything that can be done to stop animals from suffering!

Angela Murray on "Sacramento’s Progressive Newspaper Turns to Volunteers for Survival"

2009-04-13T23:08:46Z

I contacted them via email regarding volunteering, and have not received a reply as of yet.

Angela Murray on "A Dog's Love"

2009-04-13T23:06:53Z

I agree there are lessons to be learned from our beloved pets - in fact my avatar is a picture of, conincidentally, my own beautiful Bella, who holds my heart in her hands and has given me more joy than I could ever imagine. I too, believe life is too short to live without forgivenes. The difference is, most dogs misbehave, and some humans intentionally and consciously hurt others, which is harder to forgive - there's a huge difference between the two. A dog's misbehavior is not an intent to hurt its owner, while people's behavior can be selfish, inconsiderate, and intentionally hurtful. Dogs do not have the same ability as humans, and vice versa, but that does not mean we cannot learn lessons by their unconditional love, forgiveness, and absolutely resilient spirits.

Angela Murray on "Graffiti in Midtown, is it Art?"

2009-04-13T22:59:21Z

Clarification - my question does not indicate that I support graffiti on unapproved spaces, only that I wonder if part of the excitement of the expression of graffiti, to the artist, is that they are on an unapproved space. If the space is approved, will their expression be the same, or will they then be considered just another artist without the flair? I don't know the answer, it's just a thought, and is in no way an indication that I feel it is acceptable to deface - in whatever form - space that is not approved.

Angela Murray on "More Stuff to do in Sacramento"

2009-04-13T22:31:22Z

This is great, thank you! I had forgotten about the book sale, and I do intend to go. Also, UC Davis picnic day is Saturday, April 18th for those that are interested - http://picnicday.ucdavis.edu/

Angela Murray on "Contributor agreement revision"

2009-04-13T22:27:26Z

Thank you! I am a new contributor, and had planned to clarify this agreement, but it appears you have already done so. I currently do not have any conflicts with others potentially wishing to publish my work, however, I certainly hope this changes in the future!

Angela Murray on "What Doesn't Suck about Regional Transit?"

2009-04-12T07:55:16Z

Hi Templar - I am never offended by an opposing point of view, and in fact expected it when I wrote this piece. I know that many people have had bad experiences on RT (all my rides on RT have not been perfect, and some areas are very challenging to get to), so my story was an attempt to point out the finer attributes of the system rather than focusing on the problems. There's so much of that already, I thought I'd let people know that we actually do have a decent system here. My only concern was the word misleading, since that was never my intent, only to show people there's a different side to the system that doesn't receive enough appreciation for what it is. Thanks for clarifying, and for sharing your opinion - it's always welcome and as I understand it, that's what this venue is for!

Angela Murray on "Take a hike"

2009-04-12T07:50:11Z

Thank you for this information - I am an avid fan of the American River Trail, but always looking for new places to go!

Angela Murray on "Pedicabs: How We Got Here"

2009-04-12T07:48:10Z

I think this is an ingenious idea - I enjoy the history - and hope more people will take advantage of these cabs. Personally I walk and ride my bike to most places I cannot take transit to, so this wouldn't be a necessity for me but it would seem to be ideal, especially for those who might need a break from walking around midtown on a busy weekend! Personally, I hope the cabs replace the horse carriages simply from a humane perspective.

Angela Murray on "The Sacramento Coffee Tour"

2009-04-12T07:42:20Z

I am an avid coffee drinker and am really excited about following your story. I frequent Peet's out of convenience, but I enjoy the atmosphere in Temple - despire slower service as someone mentioned, they are friendly and knowledgeable each time I've been there and I feel I can relax in there. I'll look around midtown and throw in a suggestion if I see a place that has not been mentioned!

Angela Murray on "Graffiti in Midtown, is it Art?"

2009-04-12T07:35:15Z

I like the distinction between graffiti and tagging - though society in general does tent to meld the two - they are seperate, and should be recognized and treated seperately. I don't consider tagging to be art - though it's a form of expression it is usually not pleasant for most people to look at anywhere. Graffiti can be artistic, but lacks a true venue, and as 54c refers to - it just is not the same experience when viewing it in a controlled environment. These days, however, what isn't a controlled environment - if someone paints graffiti on a space that isn't approved, it's considered tagging no matter how beautiful. If the space has been approved for graffiti art - is it as exciting to paint it? That's a question for the artists....

Angela Murray on "What Doesn't Suck about Regional Transit?"

2009-04-11T06:13:19Z

Templar - I don't feel I am misleading others in my analysis - it is my opinion of why I enjoy taking the bus and my attempt to dispell some of the negative steretypes RT and the drivers receive for circumstances over which they have no control - such as times and destinations. I have, in fact, experienced just the situation you described, and it was in February on a weekend, in fact, so RT is not without it's inconveniences, it's just that I choose to deal with the inconveniences because I feel that for me, the benefits outweigh them most of the time. I'm aware of the schedules and how long I will need to wait before I take a bus, and how long it is for a connecting bus if I miss a bus, so I come prepared - in fact I carry the timetable around with me - or I choose an alternate method of transportation. There are days when even my commute to work takes me at least 1/2 hour longer than it would have if I had driven, but again, it's a choice because in that 1/2 hour I might read, or meet someone new. William, very well stated - thank you!

Angela Murray on "What Doesn't Suck about Regional Transit?"

2009-04-10T18:31:03Z

William - you and and I are on the same page. Thank you!

Angela Murray on "What Doesn't Suck about Regional Transit?"

2009-04-10T18:30:41Z

Makiko, I've experienced these things too - I definitely received a great deal of sympathy when I mentioned I took the bus. Taking the bus is streotypically and inacurrately considered something only for people who do not have other means. Being the proponent of all the advantages of public transportation that I am, I would definitely encourage you to explore your options!

Angela Murray on "What Doesn't Suck about Regional Transit?"

2009-04-10T18:27:31Z

Thank you John - waldorfandstatler, I haven't personally taken those buses, so I can't attest to these issues in those areas - and it sounds like you haven't taken them lately either (for good reason). I haven't addressed transportation or lack thereof to the outlying areas yet, though I plan to in a future story. I can attest to the fact the Regional Transit does an excellent job with the funding they are provided, and our community is fortunate to have an option. My experience is mostly in the Howe Avenue/Arden/CSUS/Downtown, and Folsom commutes.

Angela Murray on "Building 'green' in Sacramento"

2009-04-10T06:58:04Z

Sounds like a great place to try - I am always on the lookout for new restaurants in downtown!

Angela Murray on "New group offers slow bike rides around the city"

2009-04-10T06:55:19Z

This is terrific! I hope to join in sometime!

What Doesn't Suck about Regional Transit?

2009-04-10T06:11:35Z

A lot! Eager readers expecting a slam on Regional Transit – read on – you might be surprised. That’s another story to be written by someone with an opposing point of view, of which I’m sure there are many. In two years of consistently riding Regional Transit, the complaints I’ve heard run the gamut.

What hasn’t been heard – why nine times out of ten, I ditch my car in favor of Regional Transit? When I started riding the bus, I received numerous offers of rides along with groans of pity when I mentioned I’d be bussing over. To this day, I’ve not yet managed to convince my friends that riding the bus is fun! It’s not just a cost factor – it’s everything from a sense of community to the chance to read the newspaper.

Contrary to popular belief, most drivers do want to talk to and help people. I’ve seen drivers stop on a dime for what’s deemed in the public transit community as “a runner”. I’ve seen them go out of their way to help an elderly or disabled person, and I’ve seen the riders courteously offer their seats to other riders when the bus is full. I’ve personally experienced this, having been offered a seat numerous times when standing on the bus. I’ve made acquaintances and learned about new things happening in the community, and, nine times out of ten, I arrive at work on time.

While I have long been a proponent of Regional Transit, last week, my belief in the system was cemented when I left my lunch on the previous bus or on the island at the connecting point. I mentioned it to my driver, who said that when he went back to the connecting point, he’d check to see if it was there, stated the time he would be back at the stop near my work, and left. Right – I knew I’d never see that lunch again. Ever the optimist, however, I proceeded to the stop at the allotted time, and there he was – right on time – and – there was my lunch! It had to have taken a tremendous effort of coordination for him to recover the lunch and bring it back to me. I really enjoyed my lunch that day!

My opinion is that the issues that most people experience are not due to inadequacies on the part of the drivers, they are due to inadequacies in funding, support, and lack of knowledge about how to use the system – but that’s for another story.

Every morning, I look forward to my brisk (usually very brisk) walk to the bus stop. I get exercise, fresh air, reading time, and save money to boot. Who knows who I will meet or what I will learn today? I need to close for now…I have a bus to catch.

Angela Murray on "Sacramento Press workshop gets community writing"

2009-04-10T05:42:34Z

Thank you for this workshop! I truly enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to writing for the Sacramento Press!