Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Casey Kirk

Casey Kirk on "Hearts for the Arts"

2012-02-09T22:13:57Z

Beautiful! Really gets me in the Valentine's Day mood!

Casey Kirk on "Local Man Fired for Feeding Cats"

2012-02-05T01:41:34Z

Thanks for continuing to update us Heather! I think it's great you have been following this after your initial posting and hope you will continue to do so. We have received several emails commending The Sacramento Press for breaking this story. However, we'd like to clarify that the author of this story is one of our many talented community contributors who voluntarily posted this article as an entry to our journalism contest last month. That being said, we are lucky she chose to use our platform to bring awareness to this situation! At 7,000 views right now, you are doing a great job of spreading the word about this article. Thanks again for posting, Heather!

Casey Kirk on "Pet of the Week- Jack Sparrow (Adopted)"

2012-02-02T00:33:04Z

Hooray! Thanks for the update. We updated the headline!

Casey Kirk on "Local Man Fired for Feeding Cats"

2012-02-01T19:26:25Z

We have made a correction to your article. We encourage all contributors to use our free copy editing by sending a draft to journalism@sacramentopress.com. Email support@sacramentopress.com if you have any questions about this process. Thanks for posting!

Casey Kirk on "Corti Keeps Tradition of Balsamic Vinegar Alive"

2012-02-01T06:40:10Z

An audio clip will be embedded soon. Sorry for the delay, Lisa!

Casey Kirk on "MidLife GridLife - When Crazy Became Cool"

2012-01-23T19:45:49Z

Thanks for your feedback, kateo. The comment you are referring to has been removed. We encourage constructive criticism but don't allow personal attacks or offensive language.

Casey Kirk on "The Little Things"

2012-01-21T00:42:53Z

I, for one, LOVE Bisla's. I have always had a great time there and it always feels as if you're hanging out with a huge group of friends even if you came with a small group.

Casey Kirk on "Ballroom Dancers Compete in Sacramento"

2012-01-20T22:42:29Z

Hi Kalin, We have made an edit to the article and apologize for the error. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!

Casey Kirk on "California's new wine country: Sacramento"

2012-01-16T22:44:15Z

I thought the same thing. I had no idea you could just one day decide "Hey! We should be a wine region!" That being said, I love wine and welcome new wineries with open arms!

Casey Kirk on "B Street's Stephanie Altholz: 'There's no other place I'd rather be'"

2012-01-16T19:37:51Z

The captions are fixed, Barry.

Casey Kirk on "Photo essay: Payphones – A thing of the past ...almost"

2012-01-16T19:33:43Z

But your site aggregates content, right? Fox typically doesn't so it was surprising to see.

Casey Kirk on "Photo essay: Payphones – A thing of the past ...almost"

2012-01-16T02:44:42Z

Nice catch, Isaac. Reporting on a reporter's reporting...interesting concept.

Casey Kirk on "Ways to spend your MLK, Jr. Day in Sacramento"

2012-01-13T00:58:30Z

You really don't, thsas? I'm not but I was just thinking about how I know a ton of lucky people who do have the day off!

Casey Kirk on "River Cats to hire about 200 people"

2012-01-12T19:31:08Z

Let me start by saying I think it's great that the River Cats are even offering jobs when a lot of places are cutting them. Kudos to them! But you're so right about the $8.00 an hour, PrincessFifiTrixibelle. I think employers should realize that if they spend a little bit more on employee salaries and wages, they won't be constantly spending time and money on hiring new ones. Minimum wage and low-paying jobs are usually temporary until employees an find a better-paying job. Because employees are working with the mentality that the gig is temporary and not their career, they (usually) don't take ownership of their work because they aren't invested in it. Additionally, financial issues have a huge impact on the overall happiness and stress levels of employees. While they might not bring these issues into the workplace directly, inevitably hardships will take a toll on the employee's mental state and work performance in the long run. It's tough because many employers have an attitude that employees should be grateful to even have a job in this economy and that they shouldn't complain over being paid close to nothing. Let's just be honest though....you can't survive on $8.00 an hour. It's 2012! It's almost impossible to survive on even double that! Usually a person will spend half their wages just getting to work every day (gas, car maintenance, food). Even if the average person doesn't have credit card payments rent, utilities, cell phone bills, car insurance, groceries and unexpected but unavoidable payments like medical bills or car maintenance fees are enough to leave anyone with even a decent salary scraping. It's just a really sad time. I won't consider the economy on an uprise until the number of people I know who AREN'T struggling financially outweigh the number of people who ARE. For now, that is nowhere in sight.

Casey Kirk on "Window falls off downtown high rise "

2012-01-11T19:33:09Z

Thanks for posting this, Amabelle! I just passed here on my way to work and was Googling just a few minutes before you posted this to find out what happened (to no avail). You are on it!

Casey Kirk on "Pets of the Week: Rufus & Emma"

2012-01-11T19:28:05Z

My heart is officially melted. Just love that they need to be adopted together.

Casey Kirk on "Photo essay: Sacramento's stunning public murals"

2012-01-10T01:22:49Z

More articles like this, please! Love it.

Casey Kirk on "Amtrak train stops on I Street Bridge "

2012-01-09T23:30:42Z

Nice catch, Amabelle! This would make me really uneasy. That bridge does NOT look sturdy!

Casey Kirk on "What happens when Sheriff K9's retire?"

2012-01-09T23:24:48Z

Love seeing those dogs getting some much-deserved TLC from the kids and officers! The bond between the dog and its officer is really special.

Casey Kirk on "A Gander to Folsom Lake"

2012-01-09T23:19:48Z

My parents' house is right down the street and my mom and I took a couple of holiday walks here. The view almost looks more breathtaking in your photos than in person!

Casey Kirk on "A thank you to our talented community contributors"

2012-01-09T21:00:41Z

Ed, perhaps you should have written the bit about the fabulous Kati Garner instead of me. Quirky, fun and not being a tender-foot only begins to scratch the surface of that lovely lady! We are so lucky to work with ALL of you! It's the reason we come to work!

Casey Kirk on "The Occupy movement struggles to resonate within the black community"

2011-12-28T19:36:04Z

Hi PrincessFifiTrixibelle, While definitely harsh, we certainly welcome your feedback and opinion. I wanted to remind you that The Sacramento Press has a mix of articles by professional journalists and close to 2,000 citizen journalists, including Mr. Baadqir. We welcome all contributions by our community contributors as long as they meet our guidelines.

Casey Kirk on "Downtown Sacramento Christmas Lights Photos"

2011-12-23T21:03:42Z

These are beautiful! Great way to kick off my holiday weekend.

Casey Kirk on "The Occupy movement struggles to resonate within the black community"

2011-12-23T01:09:49Z

Please remember that we encourage a constructive dialogue and we ask that all contributors refrain from personally attacking one another or getting off topic. Here is our Rules of Conduct if anyone would like to review: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/190/Rules_of_Conduct

Casey Kirk on "Blue Christmas for kids raises funds for Sacramento Children’s Home"

2011-12-21T19:44:47Z

A correction has been made!

Casey Kirk on "Christmas gifts under $20"

2011-12-21T18:56:48Z

This is a really thorough roundup! Nice job!

Casey Kirk on "Pillow Pets Delivered to UC Davis Children's Hospital"

2011-12-21T00:17:47Z

I've been feeling really cynical upon hearing about theft from toy drive donation boxes, car break-ins at the Galleria and so on...especially during a time we should all be giving. Thank you for restoring my faith in mankind, at least temporarily! This photo essay gave me chills (the good kind). No child should have to spend the holidays in the hospital but it warms my heart to know they had a few minutes of happiness!

Casey Kirk on "A Unique Gift that Supports the Community"

2011-12-21T00:13:17Z

We made a correction. Thanks!

Casey Kirk on "The reality of the Christmas Assistance program"

2011-12-17T21:00:42Z

Hi Dennis, As I mentioned several times in the comments and at the top of the article, we are not affiliated with this article or the organizations mentioned in it. Please reach out to the organization for more information.

Casey Kirk on "New 'To Catch an Error' contest starts today! "

2011-12-14T20:06:18Z

We thought we fixed that but thank you so much for pointing that out!

Casey Kirk on "Heatwave loses in close match"

2011-12-13T22:36:20Z

Thank you, Reggie. We've issued a correction and apologize for the error.

Casey Kirk on "Sac High-West Campus Swap Tabled by SCUSD Board"

2011-12-11T22:01:42Z

Thank you, Susie. We have issued a correction accordingly and apologize for the error.

Casey Kirk on "MidLife GridLife - Cougar Daze"

2011-12-10T21:59:19Z

I said it before and I'll say it again....that is great! The story, not the situation! I did a little bit of digital digging and found this shoddy version of a date-rating site. http://www.theratemydate.com/worst.php I'm sure yours will be much better! Perhaps we can have an entire section on Sac Press devoted to rating local dates. Sacramento is small enough that I'm sure there will be multiple stories for each entry submitted....it will be a twisted, yet very useful, resource for bachelor and bachelorettes!

Casey Kirk on "New website focuses on Sacramento videos"

2011-12-09T20:59:15Z

This is such a cool concept! So, are all videos user-submitted or do they also find videos and upload them to their site after receiving permission?

Casey Kirk on "Copper thefts hit city neighborhoods hard"

2011-12-09T20:46:54Z

The next trend is theft of fire sprinkler systems http://www.sacfire.org/indexSub.cfm?page=1003&prid=1072&fromHome=1 This is a sad, sad and desperate world we live in lately.

Casey Kirk on ""Every Christmas Story Told (and then some!)" a New Holiday Tradition at Capital Stage"

2011-12-08T20:44:22Z

Thanks for keeping an eye out, Mari. We've issued a correction!

Casey Kirk on "Recruitment for 2012 City Management Academy ends Friday"

2011-12-07T23:54:59Z

I submitted my application and am eagerly awaiting their decision!

Casey Kirk on "Letter to Sac State: Cuts Punish Students Seeking Higher Education"

2011-12-07T18:43:10Z

Thank you for writing this, Anna. As a Sac State graduate with a degree in journalism, I somewhat feel and definitely understand your pain. I graduated in December 2008 when things started to get really bad. I was working full time and balancing a full school load and it was hard enough then to find available classes. If I had to complete another semester or two I don't think I would have been able to find the classes I needed to fit my schedule and definitely would not have been able to afford it. Luckily my parents were able to pay for my education, but they told me I would have been on my own if I needed to complete another year.

Casey Kirk on "Letter to Sac State: Cuts Punish Students Seeking Higher Education"

2011-12-07T18:39:31Z

Have you taken "Women in Media" cogmeyer?

Casey Kirk on "Sacramento State Student Fashion Association runway show benefits Autism Center for Excellence"

2011-12-07T01:12:14Z

If you visit Sac State's website, they likely have contact information for the Student Fashion Association there. That should be a good starting point!

Casey Kirk on "Jingle All the Way with SGMC"

2011-12-05T19:34:38Z

Fixed. Thanks for letting us know, Kati.

Casey Kirk on "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead at UC Davis: photos"

2011-12-02T01:05:59Z

Wow...just wow, Rik!

Casey Kirk on "Run to Feed the Hungry Splashes Through East Sacramento"

2011-11-28T22:04:06Z

It was quite a struggle to get out of bed so early (5:30 a.m.) on that cold, rainy morning. However, despite sitting down for Thanksgiving lunch with soaked shoes and socks, I would happily do it again. Seeing that many people come out in horrible weather to support the cause put great feeling in my heart the entire holiday weekend!

Casey Kirk on "Real Relationships: Family holiday dynamics"

2011-11-28T22:01:08Z

and when all else fails...just throw a lot of wine into the mix!

Casey Kirk on "Team owners, players reach tentative deal, NBA season to return by Xmas"

2011-11-28T17:21:19Z

Politics aside, this is a GREAT Christmas present! Especially to all of the employees working for the NBA.

Casey Kirk on "Man on the street: Thanksgiving edition"

2011-11-23T22:30:20Z

I am definitely thankful for the variety of restaurants we have in Sacramento, but I would never place Elephant Bar or Cheesecake Factory in that category. Those can be found anywhere!

Casey Kirk on "The reality of the Christmas Assistance program"

2011-11-22T21:08:49Z

Hi everyone, The article mentions a directory of resources at this website: http://onefatherslove.com/default.aspx. The Sacramento Press is not affiliated with the author of this story or any of the organizations mentioned in the article.

Racing for a Reason: Tony Prakash

2011-11-22T19:19:32Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 18th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is this week!

Every week up until then, we will interview a new Run to Feed the Hungry runner. We will ask a handful of different past and present runners the same questions. We have found that people are motivated by many different reasons to be involved in this incredible event.

There is still time to sign up to participate and help keep this the largest Thanksgiving Day run in the country. Go to the Run to Feed the Hungry website for more information and ways to register. We hope to see you there!

Name: Tony Prakash
Occupation: Real Estate

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Tony Prakash: It's been four years now.

SP: How many people do you run with?
TP: One to five.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
TP: Yes, I run [regularly].

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
TP: The cause is such a great cause. Just like many others that are out there, [SFBFS] is special based on its beliefs and what it does for the community; helping others who are less fortunate than us. My belief is that everyone should be equal. We should what we can to make [everyone] feel just as important. No one should ever be faced with hunger and experience poverty.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
TP: I cant pick just one, I love every aspect of the event!

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
TP: All of them that I have are fantastic.

SP: If you could make one wish this Thanksgiving, what would it be?
TP: It probably sounds corny, but to end poverty.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
TP: The gift of life!

Casey Kirk on "Sacramento Family Keeps Daughter's Memory Alive through Toy Drive"

2011-11-18T23:29:32Z

THIS is what the holiday season should be all about. I wish you another successful drive this year!

Casey Kirk on "It’s Never Too Late"

2011-11-17T18:28:32Z

The error was fixed, thanks. If you catch any errors in the future, you should enter them in our contest: http://sacramentopress.com/headline/59932/To_Catch_an_Error_contest_starts_Monday

Casey Kirk on "It’s Never Too Late"

2011-11-15T20:10:04Z

What an inspiring story! Imagine that, changing your life with just diet and exercise. It seems like such a simple concept yet so many people battle with this and are looking for an easy way to lose weight. Thanks so much for sharing your mom's story.

Casey Kirk on "To Catch an Error contest starts Monday!"

2011-11-14T22:55:51Z

The purpose of this article and the email campaign that went out this morning was to notify everyone (contributors, readers, etc.) of the contest and how it works. If anyone is unclear, please email support@sacramentopress.com or leave a comment here. The first sentence of this article explains the purpose: "We are excited to announce "To Catch an Error," a monthly contest that we hope will improve the quality of content on our site." We are not out to make anyone look bad, which is why errors are submitted via email. Hopefully our contributors will agree that error-free articles are a good thing!

Casey Kirk on "To Catch an Error contest starts Monday!"

2011-11-14T21:10:58Z

For the month of November we are trying this contest out as a test run. Please note that beginning next month, we will be revising the rules and only accept errors for articles posted during that month.

Casey Kirk on "MidLife GridLife - Going to Temple on Sundays"

2011-11-14T20:10:13Z

Now it makes sense why you suggested holding our "meeting" at Temple! Great piece, per usual. Now I have a desire to go there and write myself!

Racing for a Reason: Melissa Bierer

2011-11-14T18:42:29Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 18th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a couple weeks away!

Name: Melissa Bierer
Occupation: Senior Supply Chain Analyst at Vision Service Plan (VSP)

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Melissa Bierer: I was trying to figure that out when I registered this year. I tried to look back at the team pics, but couldn't find them. I think it's been 6 years.

SP: How many people do you run or walk with?
MB: We have a core group of 5-8 people each year that complete the event together. I pull together a group of at least 10 people from work each year, but we typically complete the event at different levels. In the past, we formed teams of more than 20 to participate in the event.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
MB: It depends on who I am doing the event with, but we typically do a run/walk combo, bobbing and weaving through the crowd. Other times, we walk the entire event and enjoy the company and scenery.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
MB: It's amazing how many people take time out on Thanksgiving, which is already a busy time, to help support the community. I believe in what Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services does for the community and am proud to participate in this event each year.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
MB: Pulling together friends to do the run and the feeling of community within the crowd.

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
MB: It was cool when we pulled together teams and they put our team names on the back of the shirts. I liked that they changed to micro-fiber last year. I have used that shirt several times as a layer when snowboarding.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
MB: I am thankful for my friends and family, my good health and having a job that I enjoy. It sounds cliche, but those really are the things that matter in life.

Casey Kirk on "Search for Missing Teen - Volunteers Need Sat. Nov. 5th, 2011"

2011-11-11T01:21:57Z

From a press release just issued from Sac PD: "The Sacramento Police Department has re-classified 17-year-old missing person Sergio Jimenez, as a runaway. On Wednesday, November 2, family members reported Jimenez missing. He was last seen at school in the 3700 block of Del Paso Road. Since that time, hundreds of volunteers and community members, along with multiple officers and detectives from the Sacramento Police Department have searched the area where he was last seen. On Wednesday, November 9, Sergio was seen at Walmart, in Yuba City, by a family member. That family member had a brief conversation with Sergio regarding why he was in Yuba City. Sergio advised he was visiting and walked away. Due to being in a powered wheelchair, the family member was not able to follow Sergio. Sergio’s aunt was immediately notified and called police. Officers retrieved the video footage from Walmart and brought it back for review. Sergio’s aunt was shown the footage and positively identified her nephew. Officers and Detectives saturated the Yuba City area, specifically the shopping center where Jimenez was last seen. Numerous employees from local business were shown Sergio’s picture. Multiple people recognized him and advised that he has been seen in and out of their stores for the past several days. At this time Sergio is considered a runaway. He is believed to be in good health and there is no evidence of duress. We are working in partnership with the Yuba City Police Department who will continue to search the area for Jimenez in hopes of contacting him. The Sacramento Police Department would like to thank everyone who dedicated their time and effort into this investigation."

Casey Kirk on "Task force takes on disabled parking placard fraud"

2011-11-10T21:46:38Z

I certainly do remember that and am still in disbelief at the number of placards issued. I think that there should definitely be an issuance fee. Like you said, we need to find some sort of solution because it's not fair to those who legitimately need the placards!

Casey Kirk on "Task force takes on disabled parking placard fraud"

2011-11-10T19:00:08Z

I think that if the DMV did a better job of verifying doctor's signatures on the forms, this wouldn't be such a problem.

Casey Kirk on "Cars on K St - This Saturday"

2011-11-10T05:33:54Z

Thanks, MikeM. We've fixed the error and appreciate you bringing it to our attention!

Casey Kirk on "Hanging with Hatch: Parking enforcement 101 "

2011-11-09T20:01:50Z

Thanks Ron! "I just pay the right amount to begin with." What a concept, huh? I must admit, I have been known to "chance" it if I can't find a couple quarters and don't have time to get change from a nearby business. That explains my parking tickets and I have no one to blame but myself.

Casey Kirk on "Hanging with Hatch: Parking enforcement 101 "

2011-11-09T19:59:46Z

While Hatch told me that he typically waits a couple minutes after a meter expires, that doesn't mean all officers do. In fact, my own parking tickets prove that they don't. I'm sure there are definitely some bad apples in the bunch, just like with any profession. But you're right, generally the issues that we all blame officers for are issues we should be taking up with the higher ups.

Casey Kirk on "Hanging with Hatch: Parking enforcement 101 "

2011-11-09T04:13:03Z

Something I left out of the article for editing purposes but found interesting is that state and city employees frequently abuse their residential permits. This a violation called "using permit for commuter purposes" and doing this four times in three months will result in a hefty citation. Officers closely track these shenanigans, using a "Permit Misuse Card" that records permit and plate information. Thanks to Officer Hatch for letting me tag along!

Hanging with Hatch: Parking enforcement 101

2011-11-09T03:05:43Z

Recently, A&E launched “Parking Wars,” a reality series chronicling the parking division in Philadelphia and Detroit and their encounters with the parking-impaired. I admit, I’m hooked. As I watched episode after episode, I found myself in awe at the sheer amount of rage that one dreaded slip of paper can instill in someone.

As someone who has dumped my own fair share of hard-earned dollars into parking citations, I can understand why the ticketed become irate; times are tough and tickets are expensive.

Curious why anyone would subject themselves to a job where harassment is guaranteed, I set my bitterness aside and asked the city if I could hang out with a parking enforcement officer. I mentally prepared myself for a deluge of verbal abuse, and hoped I didn’t get anything thrown at my face.

At 8:30 a.m. Friday morning, I met with Officer Hatch, one of 50 full-time parking enforcement officers patrolling the city.

In January, Hatch will have been ticketing for five years. He previously worked as a Downtown Guide for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. The experience actually comes in handy in his current role, since officers are regularly approached by tourists asking for directions and information.

Even if others don’t, Hatch loves his job. While many nine-to-fivers are tied to their cubicle and have supervisors breathing down their necks, parking officers get to roam free. Hatch says that he loves the freedom.

This freedom includes roaming 22,000 on-street parking spaces, broken up into 23 “beats.” This includes two neighborhood beats and three street-cleaning beats in additional to 20 regular.

Since non-city employees aren’t allowed in the official parking enforcement vehicles (a Prius or those odd-looking “carts”) we set out on an improvised walking beat starting at City Hall on 9th and I Streets, up to N and 16th streets and back.

Before I arrived, Hatch had already issued three citations since the start of his shift at 7 a.m. A quick mental calculation told me that meant Hatch had already generated a good chunk of revenue for the city.

The average ticket for an expired meter costs around $50, including a recently-added $12 "pass through fee” imposed by the state. The city is required to pass this on to citizens.

Thanks a lot, California.

More serious infractions such as altering residential permits or parking in designated handicap spaces can burn a hefty $500 hole in violators’ wallets. This might explain why the 235,196 citations issued in the 2010 fiscal year generated a stunning $8.3 million in revenue.

I asked Hatch about a recent story I read about a disgruntled former parking officer. The officer claimed, among many other allegations, that officers are given quotas.

Hatch dismissed this, explaining that setting quotas is actually illegal. He continued on to say that supervisors do, however, know the average number of tickets that should be issued for each beat.

So technically, an officer could be reprimanded for not issuing enough tickets, right?

It seems like a gray area but since Hatch was adamant about not having quotas, I later checked with Linda Tucker, Media and Communications Specialist for the Department of Transportation.

Tucker explained, “We do not and never have set quotas. The average would just mean what historically that particular block or block(s) might yield in terms of violations, but this is in no way tied to the rating of an officer’s overall performance. There may be many reasons why an average may fluctuate: weather, special events, the economy...”

Quota or not, I was surprised that by 10 a.m. Hatch still hadn’t issued a single ticket in my presence and the tally sheet in my notes remained blank. I was even more surprised, disappointed even, that there wasn’t a single insult yelled at us by an angry passerby. I started to feel slightly let down by "Parking Wars."

However, as the clock ticked on, we gained some momentum and Hatch began doling out an occasional citation. On the third ticket, the vehicle owner, who hadn’t even bothered to pay, walked up mid-ticket and I braced myself for an exchange of words.

“He’s just doing his job,” the driver said to me. He took the ticket, thanked Hatch and went along on his way. I couldn’t believe that a driver expressed appreciation for being cited! Hatch was surprised too and told me that it is far from a common reaction.

“I’m the guy everybody loves to hate,” said Hatch, half smirking.

Desperate for something juicy at this point, I asked him about any run-ins with ticketing “victims” gone mad. Hatch told me that while he hasn’t experienced any bouts of extreme ticket rage himself, his colleagues have had coffee thrown on them and been spit on more than a few times.

He gets yelled at two to three times per week, occasionally being “flipped off” for good measure. The most common insult he hears?

“Get a real job!”

“I’m still wondering what a ‘real job’ is,” Hatch laughed, obviously unfazed by the harassment as if it's all just part of the job.

Not surprisingly, he recounted many situations when drivers accused Hatch of targeting them or issuing a ticket for no reason.

“There’s a lot of people that will hate us no matter what, even if we’re right,” said Hatch. “You just have to stay calm, that’s the important thing.”

In addition to arguments, he said he gets a healthy helping of excuses. One of his "favorites"?

“I was just inside for one minute!”

Both the officer and the violator know dang well it takes more than a couple of minutes to order coffee, pick up dry cleaning, etc. so you’re better off feeding the meter than using that line.

On the flip side are those that have a "bring on the tickets" attitude. Hatch said there are definitely repeat offenders within some beats. One of these offenders is a local nightclub owner who is repeatedly cited for the same infractions, even having his car booted at one point for too many citations.

“Some people just don’t care,” he said.

While the harassment doesn’t ruffle his feathers, Hatch has a couple of parking pet peeves. The first is drivers who expect him to stop writing a ticket because their meter “just expired.” Hatch explained that this means nothing to the officer. “I have no way of knowing if they put any money in the meter at all.”

Admittedly, I have done this myself and I found myself feeling apologetic for blaming the officers. He’s right; they really don’t have a way of knowing.

However, this isn’t the case for “Pay and Display kiosks,” which give a more accurate readings of exactly when a driver put money in the machine. Hatch has a little more sympathy here.

“If it’s one or two minutes [expired] it’s not a huge deal,” Hatch said.

He’s also sympathetic to responsible drivers who opt to leave their vehicle in place while enjoying a few adult beverages. If a vehicle-owner approaches Hatch mid-ticketing and explains that they left their car instead of drinking and driving, it’s likely they will be sent on their way sans ticket.

I was happy to hear this, as most will likely agree that sometimes finding Tylenol and a Gatorade becomes a priority over getting to your car at 10 a.m. on the dot. One point for the parking enforcement team!

Hatch earned even more points for the parking division when he told me he will usually wait by a freshly-expired meter for a few minutes, giving the driver the benefit of the doubt.

Don't get too excited though.

If it’s twenty minutes? You might as well start writing out that $52 check.

Currently the city has 3,600 single space quarter-only meters and 300 kiosks, which accept multiple tenders. Those who have frantically searched in every nook and cranny of their car for quarters while running late for a meeting certainly understand the convenience of this.

Convenience and longevity (kiosks have an average lifespan of 10 years) seem like a win for both the city and the residents. Tucker said transitioning over to kiosks completely isn’t too far off.

“We are looking at phasing [in] single space meters that can accept credit cards in the not-so-distant future.”

In addition to pay kiosks, the city decided to make drivers’ lives even easier when they implemented the ability to contest tickets online.

I asked Hatch how he feels about making it easier to contest the tickets he writes, and I caught another glimpse of his soft side. Hatch said he’s all for the system, since people don’t have to stand in line at Revenue Services, which can be a lengthy process.

As we continued on our beat, roaming the perimeters of the State Capitol, I noticed a trend. It seemed like more than half of the vehicles belonged to disabled drivers.

“Generally, any government building has a ton of placards,” Hatch explained. I was astounded. Hatch, obviously used to the placard-mania, explained that there are so many placards that the city created an undercover “Disabled Placard Task Force” dedicated to regulating abuse of them.

While not a part of this task force, officers are responsible for confiscating expired and illegally-modified placards. During one shift, Hatch issued 14 tickets for expired placards.

From using markers to modify temporary residential permits to “posing” vehicles in photos to fight legitimate citations, Hatch’s stories proved Sacramentans are quite the sneaky (and crafty) bunch. He recalled one violator cutting the entire bottom portion off of a disabled placard, claiming it was issued to him that way. Another instance that stood out was the placard-holder who extended his own permit, punching a hole in the current year and taping the punched out circle into the expired year.

However, thanks to new photo-ticketing technology, it is more difficult to pull the wool over the city’s eyes. Officers’ ticketing guns now have cameras built into them, proving that a vehicle was in violation.

Oddly enough, I found myself grateful for a feature that makes officers' jobs easier.

When I first met up with Hatch, I have to admit I was a disgruntled victim of the parking system. While it’s certainly a possibility that he was on his best behavior in the presence of media, this good behavior nonetheless melted my bitterness away and replaced it with a bit of unexpected sympathy.

Like the guy said, “He’s just doing his job.”

Visit the City of Sacramento’s Department of Transportation website here.

10 additional tidbits I learned while hanging out with Officer Hatch:

1) Owning two wheels can save you money on parking: “Piggy-backing” is a completely legal practice: This is when motorcycles park in a stall paid for and parked in by another vehicle. The practice is okay as long as they fit within the white brackets painted on the street.

2) Sometimes owning two wheels can cost you too: Paid-for parking receipts are often stolen from motorcyclists, who are forced to display them out in the open. One local motorcyclist got smart and began autographing his.

3) Owning a Zipcar is good for your wallet: Hatch has only ever cited one Zipcar and, although there are designated single Zipcar spaces, officers won’t ticket Zipcars if they are on the same block as the parking space. This is in case another car illegally parked in the Zipcar space, making it unavailable.

4) Your money goes further on pay and display kiosks: If you pay at a pay stall on one block and still have time remaining, save the receipt! You can use that same receipt while you finish up your errands. The time you paid for isn’t just valid on the one block.

5) Officers aren’t intentionally parking that way to be rude: Many of us like to think officers park in red zones and double-park just because they can. An ordinance allows officers to park in red zones and double-park, mainly for safety. When retrieving VIN numbers, they often have to stand in traffic and parking their car as a buffer is a safety measure.

6) Complain to the business owner, not the officer: Business owners have the ability to change and set restrictions in front of and around their establishment.

7) Old Sac is not just a “hot spot” for tourists: In order to encourage turnover of vehicles in this tourist area, regulations are enforced seven days a week. Hatch told me this area has one of the highest volumes of tickets issued.

8) Evening shifts are where the money’s at: Officers make five percent more for working after 6 p.m.

9) Street cleaning is the parking enforcement jackpot: Hatch said in almost five years, the day that he recalls giving out the most tickets was during a street cleaning beat. He issued 100 tickets within three to four hours.

10) Land Park loves parking enforcement: Hatch told me his favorite area to patrol is Land Park because the residents actually want officers there, even thanking officers on a regular basis.

Racing for a Reason: Laura Smith

2011-11-07T18:19:33Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 18th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a few weeks away.

Name: Laura Smith
Occupation: In-Home Care Provider and Social Work Student at California State University, Sacramento

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Laura Smith: I have been doing the run for the last four years!

SP: How many people do you run or walk with?
LS: I usually run with four or five people. Last year I ran with my best friend Kristen, her sister Stephanie, her mother Mary, her boyfriend Jairid, and my boyfriend Jeff. The year before that I ran with my mother Veronica and my grandfather Ron.

SP: Do you run or walk outside the event?
LS: Well, I try and run but it is hard with so many people so it is sometimes more fun to walk and talk with family and friends.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
LS: There is so much need in the Sacramento area that it really motivates me to support a good cause and contribute so that more people can have a hot Thanksgiving meal.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
LS: My favorite thing about the Run to Feed the Hungry is that it is the largest Thanksgiving run in the country. It brings thousands of people together to give back to the community. I love being in the freezing cold early in the morning and seeing all the people dressed up festively in turkey hats.

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
LS: I loved the brown shirt with the fall leaves on it. I’m not such a big fan of the white shirts, but I loved the material they were made with last year.

SP: If you could make one wish this Thanksgiving, what would it be?
LS: Well, for everyone to have a fresh, healthy, and hot Thanksgiving meal to share with their friends and family.

SP: What are you most thankful for this year?
LS: I am most thankful to have a home, a job, and be a student in this tough time. I am also most thankful to share another happy and healthy year with my family and friends.

Casey Kirk on "Movement: A photo essay of the Sacramento Valley Station"

2011-11-07T01:47:38Z

You made me look at the building very differently.. I've never seen the station as beautiful but job well done in changing my mind!

Casey Kirk on "Birth of a movement: A parody"

2011-11-07T00:15:10Z

Please refrain from personally attacking each other. We certainly encourage constructive debate but don't allow personal attacks and don't feel this adds value to the conversation. For anyone interested, here are our Rules of Conduct (a section of our Terms of Use) which outlines this policy: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/190/Rules_of_Conduct

Casey Kirk on "Day of the Dead"

2011-11-05T00:27:59Z

Thank you, bdbrown1, we've fixed and apologize for the error.

Casey Kirk on "Fil-Am history emerge through Hip Hop and Art "

2011-11-04T19:17:31Z

Thanks, Charlie2. We've updated the article and appreciate you keeping an eye out!

Casey Kirk on "Boston Takes Over the Naked Lounge This Tuesday"

2011-11-03T17:46:52Z

Link is fixed, Elisabeth.

Casey Kirk on "Joaquin Murrieta Meets Billy the Kid"

2011-11-02T22:28:27Z

Thanks for your feedback, Mark. We have three flags for users: duplicate article, spam, and offensive. In addition, we will pull libelous articles or articles that do not meet any of our other guidelines outlined in our Terms of Use. This article does not violate any of these guidelines and we do not pull content because other users don't enjoy reading it. We are an open platform and any contributor can post as long as his/her story meet those guidelines. If contributors are posting content that is of poor quality, we will encourage him/her to work with our copy editors and will make suggestions on how to improve their work. However, we can't force contributors to take our suggestions unless they are in violation of our TOU. I hope you won't let articles by one or two writers get in the way of the many great articles on our site!

Casey Kirk on "The reality of the Christmas Assistance program"

2011-11-02T22:05:12Z

Hi Sarah The article mentions a directory of resources at this website: http://onefatherslove.com/default.aspx. The Sacramento Press is not affiliated with the author of this story or any of these organizations he talks about in his articles. I would encourage you to visit the website above.

Casey Kirk on "Locke Property Dispute (part 3)"

2011-11-01T18:32:38Z

I've updated all three articles to include links to and from the different parts.

Casey Kirk on "A Mother's Cry"

2011-11-01T07:18:14Z

Wow, this was a very powerful read Rhonda. Thanks, as always, for sharing your experience with us!

Casey Kirk on "Check Before You Burn Starts November 1 in Sacramento County and its Cities"

2011-10-31T20:21:46Z

I personally love the smell of fires burning, in fireplaces or out in a controlled burn. It actually shocks me how much this bothers people.

Casey Kirk on "Choral Society “Canticles of Praise” is divine"

2011-10-31T19:27:47Z

Wow, that top photo is beautiful!

Racing for a Reason: Tonja Field

2011-10-31T19:05:38Z

Lace up your shoes, Sacramento -- the 18th annual Run to Feed the Hungry is only a few weeks away.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) encourages you to be part of Sacramento's Thanksgiving tradition. The 5K and 10K fun run and walk launches from Sacramento State, 6000 J St., on Thanksgiving morning. With 30,000 participants expected to be involved, you are guaranteed a morning of fun with family and friends.

Every week up until then, we will interview a new Run to Feed the Hungry runner. We will ask a handful of different past and present runners the same questions. We have found that people are motivated by many different reasons to be involved in this incredible event.

Name: Tonja Field
Occupation: X-ray/CT/Mammography Tech

The Sacramento Press: How many years have you been doing the run?
Tonja Field: I've participated every year since 2001.

SP: How many people do you run with?
TF: Every year it is different. In the beginning I would run/walk it with two of my best friends, one year I did it by myself because the race started before I could even locate any of my friends and another year I did it as part of The Sacrament Press team.

SP: Do you run or walk at RTFTH?
TF: Lately I've mostly walked it as I find it more enjoyable to enjoy the scenery and a little more difficult to get my legs moving in the cold weather as I have gotten older, but one day I may want to try running it again.

SP: Do you run or walk outside of the event?
TF: I ran a half- marathon for the first time in March and have run only twice since then. I ran again on Sunday [at the Merrell Down & Dirty National Mud Run Series] and the last time I'll probably run in 2011 is the Run to Feed the Hungry. I'm a Beachbody coach so thankfully those workout programs have kept me in shape so that I can run these sort of events when I want to and not feel like I am going to die for the cause.

SP: What motivates you to be part of this cause?
TF: People going hungry has always been something I've been concerned about. I don't have to know why they are without, I just know that no one should be without food. The fact that this event allows Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services to provide so much for so many people is just one of the reasons I participate in this event each year.

SP: What is your favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry?
TF: My favorite thing about Run to Feed the Hungry is the fact that I am getting a little exercise before I consume more food than my body probably needs in a week. Also, even if I am just walking it, the fresh air and happiness around me is enough to make me be positive about the whole day.

SP: Do you have a favorite t-shirt design from over the years?
TF: I do have a favorite t-shirt design! I can't recall the year *digging up all my millions of t-shirts* but it was the white one with blue & yellow writing - turkey legs in running shoes. FOUND IT! 2005 :)

SP: If you could make one wish this year on Thanksgiving, what would it be?
TF: If I could have one wish (I always make wishes!) this Thanksgiving, it would be for me just to come to the CLEAR realization that all I have and all the people I have around me is enough. I don't need anything else and I need to learn to be content and thankful in this moment. I am getting better with this over time, but it still is a struggle.

Casey Kirk on "Fairytale town meets Harry Potter"

2011-10-27T20:10:00Z

No need to apologize, jljenna. We've corrected the errors and really appreciate you pointing them out to us!

Casey Kirk on "Batting Lessons"

2011-10-25T21:28:32Z

There is just something about the way these little guys look that scares me. Very interesting information though!

Casey Kirk on "The Sacramento Press wants to help you write!"

2011-10-24T22:15:58Z

Thanks for pointing those out, Josh. We do our best to encourage copy editing for all stories but don't require it. Thankfully we have users like you to help keep an eye out.

Casey Kirk on "Firestone Public House to open in February"

2011-10-24T18:40:52Z

I like that idea, Shalini. What a concept! In my opinion, having almost any business is better than an empty space. Even if I don't choose to frequent it myself, I'm still rooting for new businesses to succeed!

Casey Kirk on "Firestone Public House to open in February"

2011-10-24T18:37:32Z

Thanks for reminding us but can you elaborate on what you mean by that? Are you implying that we're trying to be like San Francisco?

Casey Kirk on "The Sacramento Press wants to help you write!"

2011-10-24T17:44:39Z

Alexandria, is there a suggestion you have for the article or were you referring to the spammy comment that was removed? The comment promoting the haunted was removed because it violated our terms of use.

The Sacramento Press wants to help you write!

2011-10-23T22:18:14Z

Here at The Sacramento Press, we want to provide you with the tools you need to confidently deliver your message to readers. To help polish your voice, we provide free copy editing to all of our community contributors. While we don’t require you to have your article edited, we strongly encourage it since articles are permanent once they are published. It’s always helpful to have a second set of eyes review your work!

The best part is, it’s a fast and easy process. Just send a draft of your article to journalism@sacramentopress.com and an edited copy will be returned within 24 hours, ready to copy and paste. We offer copy editing every day except Saturdays.

A couple quick tips about the copy editing process:

* It’s best to send your draft within the body of the e-mail instead of an attachment to be sure our editors can view your article.
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* If you have questions about posting on the site, please direct them to our support staff at support@sacramentopress.com.
* Our copy editors typically only edit for spelling and grammar, but if you would like more feedback, just let the editor know when submitting your draft.
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If you have any questions about copy editing or becoming a community contributor, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. If you're not a contributor yet, we will walk you through the sign up process. Just contact us at support@sacramentopress.com or (916) 596-1963. We're here to help!

Casey Kirk on "Firestone Public House to open in February"

2011-10-22T19:32:44Z

Here is the unofficial definition of "bro bar" http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bro%20bars&defid=3608845 Silly (and untrue) stereotypes aside, I am really excited for this place to open! With the Wong and de Vere team behind it, it's sure to be successful.

Casey Kirk on "MidLife GridLife - Trends With Benefits"

2011-10-21T18:33:39Z

Not covering annual exams? I'm not sure how much an annual exam would cost out of pocket but when it comes down to "Should I spend a couple of hundred dollars on my annual exam or purchase groceries to feed my children and pay my utilities?" I'm willing to bet most will push off that appointment a couple of months...then a couple more months, and before you know it they have missed their annual exam. God forbid a woman has a serious but silent health condition, such as the early stages of cervical cancer, a year is a long time for it to develop. The same for other diseases. Like you said, treatment costs much more than preventative care. It's mind-boggling. Thanks for the great read, as always!

Casey Kirk on "Ya otter see this"

2011-10-20T16:44:50Z

I can't wait to see these little guys in person! Otters are my favorite.

Casey Kirk on "For a good scare- haunted house round-up"

2011-10-19T18:56:08Z

Another haunted house left off the list is the fourth annual haunted house, benefiting Serna Village (http://www.cottagehousing.org/serna-village/). Serna Village houses 243 children and their families who are in transition from the streets and this is their biggest fundraiser of the year. The hours are Oct. 27th, 4-10 p.m. and Oct. 28th, 29th & 30th from 4 until 11 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 and under. There will be a full concession stand, face painting and more. Address is 5836 Dudley Blvd. McClellan, 95652

Casey Kirk on "“Spay Day” means financial relief for pet owners"

2011-10-14T21:23:10Z

Did you have a bad experience with SAAC, questions?

Casey Kirk on "Sacramento State arson attack."

2011-10-14T18:24:19Z

Mark Out of curiosity, what does the color of someone's hair have anything to do with what they should be concerned about? Also, what does Wall Street have anything to do with being concerned about your safety on campus? Students aren't supposed to be worried about burning buildings on their campus because Wall Street protests are taking place? Please enlighten me.

Casey Kirk on "Feds crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries"

2011-10-13T18:47:20Z

Love the timeline! I think everyone is a little fuzzy on the way this issue has progressed so it's nice to see it outlined chronologically. I agree with Joanne's statement about the bad apples. I think that there is definitely a legitimate need for medicinal marijuana and am still unsure where I stand on the issue of complete legalization but, while I'm not going to judge, I also have many friends and acquaintances who fit this description. I have seen many people essentially Google an ailment, stroll into a dispensary, and come out within the hour, arms overflowing with a ridiculous amount of "medicine." All you need is to memorize a laundry list of symptoms and find a "doctor" (also bad apple) who is looking to make a quick buck. Anxiety, anorexia, glaucoma, back pain, insomnia, STRESS so on and so on, where does it stop really? It's almost comical how easy it is to obtain a card and I'm just sick of a lot of these dispensaries claiming that they are concerned about the wellness of their patients when more than half of their customers are just experiencing symptoms that the entire world experiences on a daily basis Before anyone attacks my comment, note that I am NOT saying dispensaries shouldn't be open. I have seen first-hand how medicinal marijuana can be used effectively and improve the quality of someone's life....more than someone, a lot of people. This whole issue just really fascinates me and I have a feeling it will continue for years to come, back and forth.

Casey Kirk on "Local documentary creates awareness about teen substance abuse epidemic"

2011-10-13T02:04:21Z

Thanks for posting this, Kim! I came straight home from work today so I could watch this (I know i should get Tivo). I'm only 5 minutes in and I am enthralled.

Casey Kirk on "Dispensary closures mount in Sacramento County's cannabis crackdown "

2011-10-12T20:46:32Z

Thanks for doing such a thorough job of following this issue, Ed! It's been very interesting to read your updates.

Casey Kirk on "Muriel Lee and Her $10,000 Piece of Art"

2011-10-10T21:10:35Z

Thanks for sharing your take on the evening! That was very generous of Mrs. Raley-Teel.

Casey Kirk on "SACRAMENTO HOUSING AUTHORITY OPENS WAIT LISTS ON NOV 29"

2011-10-10T17:28:52Z

Hi mar, You will need to visit the SHRA website for more information. I will send your information to the author of this article but please remember The Sacramento Press is not affiliated with SHRA. See author Angela Jones' comment above.

Casey Kirk on " Pumpkin Pickin at Davis Ranch Harvest Festival"

2011-10-10T17:26:33Z

Hi Judy It's hard to tell why users rate an article with a thumbs up or thumbs down. It could be because someone didn't like the business you wrote about or even someone who can't stand Halloween. If you have any feedback or questions about our features, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us at support@sacramentopress.com. Thanks for posting!

Casey Kirk on "Local workers join nationwide movement with Occupy Sacramento"

2011-10-07T20:57:35Z

Well said, Savanti. Your comment brings to mind one of my favorite show, "Undercover Boss." Have you ever seen it? CEOs of major corporations such as 7-11, Roto Rooter, White Castle, etc. pose as a new employee in training while cameras film them. By the end of a couple weeks, the CEO often can't believe how much they don't know about their employees and difficult it is to do the jobs that they are paying their employees minimum wage to perform. Every episode I have seen shows the CEO dumbfounded and shocked over the financial struggles their employees encounter on a daily basis because they are so out of touch with what it means to be the working poor. What they should really do is make those CEOs live on their employees' wages...that I would like to see! Being an American is definitely not what it used to be. I'm not quite sure what the "American dream" means anymore...it's all pretty depressing if you ask me!

Casey Kirk on "County halts new adult-related businesses for 45 days"

2011-10-05T18:38:00Z

This weekend I was driving through the El Camino area I was shocked at how many "massage" parlors there were. I half-jokingly turned it into a game similar to "slug bug" and hit my boyfriend every time I saw one. Needless to say, we both took a beating at the end of our 15 minute commute. I think you can definitely tell the quality of a neighborhood by the number of check-cashing, payday loan and "cash for gold" storefronts. I think I should add "massage" parlors that advertise with neon signs to that list. Glad something is being done!

Casey Kirk on "Foreigner headed to the Sleep Train Amphitheatre"

2011-10-05T00:33:56Z

I can't wait for this concert! Isn't Journey the headliner though? The Sleeptrain website is selling tickets to "Journey with special guests Foreigner and Night Ranger." I love Foreigner and all but was slightly confused that this article make it seems like it is Foreigner's tour and casually mentions Journey in one line at the very end. I could be wrong but am truly curious...

Casey Kirk on "Sac World Fest a success"

2011-10-05T00:27:26Z

I agree, WeAreLoved, that making it FREE is great! There are many weekends where I want to go to a local event but then do a quick calculation of the costs associated (admission, parking, food, beverages, shopping purchases) and change my mind. Like everyone else, I am on an extremely tight budget and I think Sacramento could benefit from more free and low-cost family-friendly events.

Casey Kirk on "Real Relationships: Stay true to thine self"

2011-10-04T22:23:11Z

I don't know about Sac Press taking the place of a relationship but we will CERTAINLY support budding writers! Glad you both feel the love!