Inside Pocket June 2019

JUNE 2019

POCKET

JILL ESTROFF

POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS ARDEN

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WILHAGGIN

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SINGLE STORY GREENHAVEN HOME A wonderful open Àoor plan 3 bedrooms 2½ baths . Separate living and family rooms. Nice kitchen overlooking large family room with high vaulted ceilings, brick ¿replace and wet bar. Formal dining room and kitchen nook. Large laundry room with built-in cabinets. New interior paint, carpet/pad, blinds, lights. Low maintenance yard with covered patio. $450,000 MONA GERGEN 916-247-9555 DRE-01270375

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WONDERFUL HOLLYWOOD PARK COTTAGE This move-in ready home features 2 bedrooms and 1½ baths with updated kitchen and bathroom in 2015, garage converted into a studio with a full kitchen and a bathroom in 2012, HVAC and dual-pane windows in 2006, interior paint in 2019, original hardwood Àoors and laminate Àoors in family room, a large back yard. $385,000 JULIANNE PARK 916-541-8403 DRE-01999740

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EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD A BET TER PL ACE. JUNE 2019

JUNE 2019

JUNE 2019

JUNE 2019

EAST SAC

ARDEN

LAND PARK/GRID

POCKET

JULIE TRAIL

SUSAN LANDI: POPS IN THE PARK

PAT MAHONEY

JILL ESTROFF

ARDEN • ARCADE • SIERRA OAKS • WILHAGGIN • DEL PASO MANOR • CARMICHAEL

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • HOLLYWOOD PARK • BROADWAY • THE GRID • MIDTOWN • OAK PARK

CARMICHAEL

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • HOLLYWOOD PARK • BROADWAY • THE GRID • MIDTOWN • OAK PARK

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • HOLLYWOOD PARK • BROADWAY • THE GRID • MIDTOWN • OAK PARK

ARDEN

ARDEN

POCKET • GREENHAVEN •

POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

EAST SACRAMENTO • McKINLEY PARK • RIVER PARK • ELMHURST • TAHOE PARK • CAMPUS COMMONS ARDEN

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ARCADE

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SIERRA OAKS

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WILHAGGIN

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DEL PASO MANOR

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SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

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ARCADE

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SIERRA OAKS

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WILHAGGIN

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DEL PASO MANOR

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POCKET • GREENHAVEN • SOUTH POCKET • LITTLE POCKET • RIVERLAKE • DELTA SHORES

CARMICHAEL

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ARCADE

•

SIERRA OAKS

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WILHAGGIN

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DEL PASO MANOR

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CARMICHAEL

LAND PARK • CURTIS PARK • HOLLYWOOD PARK • BROADWAY • THE GRID • MIDTOWN • OAK PARK

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INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

3104 O ST. #120 • SACRAMENTO, CA 95816

THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE, PLACES & CULTURE IN AMERICA'S FARM-TO-FORK CAPITAL

THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE, PLACES & CULTURE IN AMERICA'S FARM-TO-FORK CAPITAL

THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE, PLACES & CULTURE IN AMERICA'S FARM-TO-FORK CAPITAL

THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE, PLACES & CULTURE IN AMERICA'S FARM-TO-FORK CAPITAL

COVER ARTIST

3104 O St. #120, Sac. CA 95816 (Mail Only)

info@insidepublications.com PUBLISHER Cecily Hastings EDITOR Cathryn Rakich editor@insidepublications.com PRODUCTION M.J. McFarland DESIGN Cindy Fuller

JILL ESTROFF Jill Estroff lives in Curtis Park. Her love of art made her role as marketing director at the Crocker Art Museum from 1986 to 1993 a dream job. Inspired, she took art classes in the early 1990s. A few years ago classes rekindled her love of painting. Estroff ’s first solo show, “Outdoor Beings: Being Outdoors,” features her vivid landscapes with figures, both human and equine. The show is at the KVIE Gallery at 2030 W. El Camino Ave. through Aug. 23. A public reception will be held June 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Shown: “Beyond the Bend,” 20 inches by 20 inches, acrylic. Visit jillestroffart.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY Linda Smolek, Aniko Kiezel AD COORDINATION Michele Mazzera, Julie Foster DISTRIBUTION Sue Pane Sue@insidepublications.com ACCOUNTING Daniel Nardinelli, Lauren Stenvick daniel@insidepublications.com

916.443.5087 accounts@insidepublications.com ACCOUNT Sally Giancanelli 916.335.6503 SG@insidepublications.com SERVICE TEAM Lauren Mugnaini 916.956.0540 LM@insidepublications.com Lauren Stenvick 916.524.0336 LS@insidepublications.com Victoria Viebrock 916.662.2631 V V@insidepublications.com EDITORIAL POLICY Commentary reflects the views of the writers and does not necessarily reflect those of Inside Publications. Inside Publications is delivered for free to more than 80,000 households in Sacramento. Printing and distribution costs are paid entirely by advertising revenue. Inside Publications welcomes readers’ comments. Letters to the Editor should be submitted via email to editor@insidepublications.com. Please include name, address and phone number.

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JUNE 2019 VOL. 6 • ISSUE 5 6 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 25 28 29 30 32 36 37 38 40

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5

WAR OF THE ROSES

SECRETIVE GROUP THREATENS MCKINLEY PARK GARDEN uring the last 18 months, my McKinley Park neighborhood has experienced a battle over the city’s plan to construct a large underground water vault. The project will go beneath McKinley Park’s eastern side where the baseball field sits.

We’ve had contentious community meetings, with neighbor against neighbor. Most water vault supporters—I am one of them—tended to stay out of the battle and let the city deal with the small but intense group of vault opponents.

While the city moves forward with the project, some foes are defiant. Last summer, several neighbors erected lawn signs expressing opposition to the vault.

As of this writing in early May, there are seven large banners (3 feet by 8

D

CH

By Cecily Hastings Publisher’s Desk

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feet) installed along H Street between Alhambra Boulevard and 33rd Street.

And while the group against the vault claims it wants to “Save McKinley Park,” its actions are hurting efforts to preserve and maintain the McKinley Rose Garden—a major East Sacramento attraction.

The majestic 1,200-bush public rose garden was restored with $150,000 of private funds raised by Friends of East Sacramento, a volunteer nonprofit founded by Lisa Schmidt and I in 2012.

Since then we have leased the garden from the city.

We market and manage events at the rose garden, including weddings, to raise funds that enable our nonprofit to care for the entire garden at no cost to the city. We recruit and manage hundreds of volunteers who care for the roses.

Here’s the background on the water vault and the reason most neighbors I’ve spoken to support the project.

The need for the vault arises from Sacramento’s outdated combined sewer system, which dumps storm runoff and wastewater into one pipeline for treatment at the regional sanitation facility in Elk Grove. During severe storms, the system can become

overwhelmed, which leads to sewer outflows in lower-lying neighborhoods such as East Sacramento.

“Untreated sewage comes onto the streets, literally floating down the streets. It’s a real health hazard,” City Councilmember Jeff Harris says. “Many people in the area have basements that flood and that are often contaminated with sewer effluvia.”

If constructed, the McKinley Water Vault would store up to 6 million gallons of water in an underground tank until a storm passes. Then the water gets pumped out for treatment.

For all but a handful of days every decade, the vault would remain empty.

The project will cost roughly $30 million. Construction is expected to last between 18 and 24 months.

The City Council approved certifying the McKinley Water Vault Environmental Impact Report last Oct. 9.

In the weeks before the council action, a small but intense opposition emerged, expressing its opinion on red and yellow banners erected on two H Street homes. The banners read, “Halt the 3.2-acre sewage tank.”

Neighbors who opposed the project spoke at City Council meetings and

stated objections to the length and intensity of construction and related traffic. They asked the council to reconsider drastically more expensive and lengthy alternatives.

Harris, who represents the neighborhood, says opponents mischaracterized the purpose of the underground concrete cistern.

“They’ve called it a toxic waste dump and a sewage tank,” Harris says. “It’s basically meant to be a cache for storm water.”

Harris points to the $1.3 million upgrades McKinley Park will receive once construction is completed— amenities that could include new bathrooms, a new irrigation system and a heated pool. “Additionally, we’d be planting 60 new trees in the park,” he says.

The city has significant experience with water-storage vaults. They are a major component of our flood protection. Three facilities have been built in neighborhoods around East Sacramento over the past 19 years.

The vaults have proved safe and effective. There have been no problems or complaints with any of the storage facilities.

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7

Banners and signs along H and 33rd streets show opposition to the city's water infrastructure project starting construction this month in McKinley Park.

Opponents of the McKinley Water Vault argue the city should separate its two sewer systems, which Harris notes would cost upward of $1 billion and take more than 20 years to complete.

A website, savemckinleypark.com, primarily focuses on park closures, traffic congestion and potential noise from construction. The website doesn’t identify who is leading or funding the opposition campaign. Only Will Green is publically identified by name in communications from the group.

A lawsuit to stop the McKinley Water Vault was filed one month after the City Council approved the environmental report. (City taxpayers are on the hook to pay the costs of defending the lawsuit.) In February, a Sacramento County Superior Court judge rejected an attempt to stop the vault’s construction.

In a nine-page ruling, Judge Richard Sueyoshi denied the lawsuit filed by an anonymous group calling itself Citizens For A Safe And Sewage-Free McKinley.

The group wanted to block the city from building the vault. There is little doubt the lawsuit was connected to people who manage the “save McKinley” website.

The group claimed the water vault would harm trees in McKinley Park and cause sewage and contaminated storm water to flow into the park and damage the neighborhood’s historical resources and air quality.

In his ruling, Judge Sueyoshi wrote, “The Court agrees with (the city) that (the citizens group) has failed to cite the evidence that is not in support of its position.” He added that while the group may disagree with the EIR’s conclusions, “This does not constitute a sufficient basis to set aside the city’s approval of the EIR.” After losing in court, the anonymous group put up five more huge banners— making a total of seven. The banners and signs are visible and unsightly to people enjoying the park and have created significant concerns among potential renters of the rose garden and volunteers who train and work there.

The rose garden’s major source of revenue is events, augmented by private donations. Even regular donors now question the “sewer tank” fear mongering expressed by the banners.

Our rose garden operation will be potentially impacted by the project. But we understand the need and welcome the significant improvements to park infrastructure and landscaping. We see the work as another much-needed revitalization project for the historic rose garden—a continuation of what we started in 2012.

The group that purports to want to preserve the historic park is now contributing to its possible demise. They are making our volunteer jobs much

THE GROUP THAT PURPORTS TO WANT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC PARK IS NOW CONTRIBUTING TO ITS POSSIBLE DEMISE. THEY ARE MAKING OUR VOLUNTEER JOBS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. THEY ARE LIMITING OUR SOURCES OF INCOME.

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more difficult. They are limiting our sources of income.

Under the city’s sign ordinance, the banners are illegal. We filed a complaint with the city in April. The code enforcement department confirmed the banners are illegal, and we hope the city will move swiftly to get them removed.

But the city’s sign ordinance is vague.

Smaller signs are permitted for up to six months in a calendar year. Who verifies installation dates?

At the end of June, even the smaller lawn signs must be removed. Of course, the message on the signs is unregulated.

Imagine what hateful, spiteful neighbors could accomplish, forcing you and your family and city officials to absorb various opinions for six months.

No one wants to hinder our First Amendment freedom of speech. But the potential for public annoyance and acrimony is real.

As for the McKinley Rose Garden, it’s easy for groups who oppose civic

projects to tear down the work of volunteers at our nonprofit. It takes endless hours and dedication to serve the city by privately creating a worldclass public amenity.

None of the folks behind the banners and lawsuit have lifted a finger or donated a dime to help with the McKinley Rose Garden. The community should be outraged at the destructive behavior of a secretive, anonymous group supposedly concerned with preservation.

Note: Just before we went to print the large banners were removed as ordered by the city. But numerous new banners— of the smaller size allowed by city code— were installed on both H Street and 33rd Street.

Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com.

Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento. com. n

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9

A Balanced Life NURSE’S UNICYCLE KEEPS HER ON UPWARD PATH

J

uliana Bianes took her first unicycle ride inside her house. She held onto the kitchen counter. A few months later, the Pocket resident was riding her unicycle around the neighborhood while strumming her guitar.

Next came mountain unicycling, an adventure sport that consists of traversing rough terrain on—yes—one wheel. Bianes has unicycled for more than 30 years.

“My grandfather gave me a Big Wheel to ride as a toddler. When I was 8 years old, he bought me my first unicycle at a flea market for $15,” she says.

From an early age, the Bay Area native was energetic, focused and ready to combine wellness and fitness with her love for the outdoors. In high school and college, she ran track and swam. She participated in Naval Sea Cadet Corps training at Treasure Island as a young teen.

At 17, Bianes joined the Navy. She served as a firefighter and welder, and trained in emergency readiness. Leading to Desert Storm, she deployed on the destroyer Samuel Gompers. A few years ago, she returned to college to study nursing. She recently obtained her nursing degree from Sacramento State University, the first in her family to graduate from high school and college.

But I had to ask—why a unicycle?

“The unicycle is a balance sport, and balance is a useful skill as one ages,” she says. “Personally, the unicycle has helped me maintain mental clarity

CM

By Corky Mau Pocket Life

and balance during the times in my life when all seemed completely unbalanced.”

Bianes works part time as an advice nurse for Kaiser Permanente and is a consultant with Zurvita health products. She will soon sit for her Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner board certification. She envisions a career helping people achieve optimal wellness through lifestyle changes such as diet and physical activity.

And she makes time to ride on one wheel, especially around the Delta.

I doubt I’ll attempt a unicycle. But if you want to try, Bianes and her unicycle are available for coaching, community events and private gatherings. Email jbianes@yahoo.com.

SUMMER READING When school is out, we’re ready for summer reading. The kickoff party at the Robbie Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library will include carnival games, a story walk and special performance by the Fenix Drum and Dance Company.

Enjoy entertainment and cool treats Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, and sign up for the 2019 summer reading program. There are reading activities and prizes for all ages.

KIDS’ OPERATION CODE CLUB Does your child have an interest in learning to program? Brent Hoskins and Aldo Soriano are putting together a kids’ Operation Code Club in Pocket.

The club is modeled after a successful code club they created at St. Robert Catholic School.

Children learn to program and code using a STEM-based platform. Classes will be held at 7230 South Land Park Drive. For information or to sign up, visit www.operationcodeclub.com or call (916) 282-9194.

HAWAIIAN COOKING Kalua pork is a common Hawaiian dish at luaus and family gatherings.

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Juliana Bianes

Kalua is a traditional cooking method of steaming food in an imu pit (underground oven). You can learn how on Friday, June 14, at ACC at 11:30 a.m.

The $16 per-person fee includes a cooking demonstration by Kim Fujiwara and a Hawaiian plate lunch of rice, kalua pork and macaroni salad. To register, contact Anna Su at (916) 3939026.

TGIF AT GARCIA BEND PARK Meet friends and family at Garcia Bend Park on Friday, June 21, for an outdoor evening picnic.

A variety of food trucks will be on hand. Family activities will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.

OFFICE HOURS Assemblymember Jim Cooper holds office hours at the Robbie

Waters Pocket-Greenhaven Library on Thursday, June 20, from 3 to 5 p.m. For information, contact Daniel Washington at (916) 670-7888 or daniel. washington@asm.ca.gov.

City Councilmember Rick Jennings meets constituents the same day at 6 p.m. Contact Lisa Canfield at (916) 8087007 or lcanfield@cityofsacramento.org.

Graduation Cakes Father's Day Cakes

ALOHA DAVID MORIKAWA Executive Director David Morikawa recently left Meals On Wheels by ACC after nine years of service. He’s joining state service. I had the pleasure of visiting David during his tenure.

I saw firsthand his dedication and commitment to our seniors. Meals On Wheels has been a fixture in our community for several years. In August 2018, the organization delivered meal No. 4 million in Sacramento County. I wish David luck on his new adventure.

Corky Mau can be reached at corky. sue50@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. n

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11

Making Tracks CITY REPORT SHOWS HOW LEVEE TRAIL WILL WORK

T

he new parkway trail atop the Sacramento River levee north from Garcia Bend Park to Arabella Way will not disturb song sparrows, bank swallows, burrowing owls or western yellow-billed cuckoos.

The trail might interrupt the landing pattern of a Swainson’s hawk or two, but that’s not likely. Turtles, beetles, snakes, shrimp, badgers and Chinook salmon will not be impacted by the construction work.

Pocket residents are still a couple of years away from being able to walk, run or ride bikes on the new trail.

The recreational project must wait for completion of levee repairs, which are underway by the Sacramento Area Flood

RG

By R.E. Graswich Pocket Beat

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Control Agency and Army Corps of Engineers.

The levee improvements are massive—tree removal, erosion control, relief wells and foundational stability are all part of the plan. Once the floodcontrol work is finished, city crews will pave the public pathway atop the newly rejuvenated levee, probably in 2022.

For those of us who have spent years agitating for public access to the levee, 2022 seems like a beckoning treasure.

We see it on the horizon. We can almost touch it.

And we can read about it—in spectacular detail. This spring, the city completed its obligatory Environmental Impact Report update on the Sacramento River Parkway Trail.

Environmental documents can numb the brain, but the levee parkway EIR is riveting. Covering 175 pages, the thesis finally confirms the city’s promise for a recreational dream conceived in 1975.

The EIR covers the first extension of what will one day be a parkway trail that allows people to walk or cycle from Freeport to Downtown, and into Folsom if they wish, along the Sacramento and

American rivers. The finished trail will make Sacramento unique and enviable among cities. It will serve as the region’s most extensive and valuable public recreational asset.

The new stretch from Garcia Bend to Arabella goes 1.85 miles. That may not sound like much, but it’s essential to the larger, grander plan. For 44 years, a handful of homeowners along the levee used political influence and legal threats to prevent the trail from being built atop the levee.

They bullied local bureaucrats and sweet-talked state authorities into handing out fence permits to block public access to the levee. They treated the riverfront as their own private playground.

They damaged the levee with illegal staircases and vegetation, built picnic grounds and acted as if the river was created for their benefit. Upstream, a few property owners are still causing trouble. The new 1.85-mile trail is the first time the city truly puts public access ahead of private interests on the Pocket levee.

The EIR is a comprehensive study.

There are maps and aerial photos.

Charts explain why various species of birds, reptiles, mammals, fish and plants won’t be displaced by the work.

Construction irritants such as noise and vibration are addressed. As for dust kicked up by the trail builders, the report explains how water trucks will wash down the work zone twice daily. A street sweeper will vacuum every day.

There’s even a plan for the discovery of Native American remains or artifacts.

An archeologist will be on standby, and the Native American Heritage Commission will be a phone call away should something turn up. Given that the project won’t dig deeper than 2 feet and is atop a 20th century levee, the presence of relics is “highly unlikely,” the report says.

Not everyone will be pleased. No doubt a few property owners along the levee will cook up complaints. Some folks just can’t stand progress.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@iclould.com. n

POC n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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Maintaining Our Roots AGRICULTURE EXPERT KEEPS SACRAMENTO’S TREES IN TIP-TOP SHAPE

Leland “Lee” Ruth

JL

By Jessica Laskey Giving Back: Volunteer Profile

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POC JUN n 19

T

o say that Leland “Lee” Ruth has a green thumb would be an immense understatement.

The River Park resident not only boasts an impressive agricultural background, he’s also one of the key players involved in the maintenance of Sacramento’s iconic tree canopy.

“Trees are being taken out faster than they’re being put in, especially in River Park,” says Ruth, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 40 years (his wife grew up four blocks from their current home).

“If we want to continue to have a tree canopy—which beautifies the neighborhood and improves air quality—we have to get involved in planting new ones.”

Ruth’s interest in agriculture began early. He was raised on a cattle-ranch-turned-diversifiedfarming-project north of Redding. He went on to earn both a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s in education and agriculture at Cal Poly.

After college, Ruth taught high school vocational agriculture for six years, led the California FFA program for two years at the state Department of Education and then went on to work for the Agricultural Council of California, a lobbying group that represents agricultural cooperatives. After retiring in 1993, Ruth found that he had more time to devote to volunteering, which is when his talent with trees began to take center stage.

The 91-year-old Ruth is a founding member of the River Park Tree Canopy Project, which has planted nearly 135 trees since November 2015. He was also instrumental in the Adopt-a-Tree program at McKinley Park, a partnership between Friends of East Sacramento and the City of Sacramento Parks Department that sponsored the planting of a new tree grove in 2014. Ruth was so dedicated to the success of the project that he hand-watered the newly planted saplings to make sure they got through the drought the next two years.

“Trees need help with watering during the first three years,” Ruth explains. “Then once they’re established and they’ve put down a tap root, they can get by with no water in the summer.”

Ruth has also been the acting “tree expert” for the Shepard Garden and Arts Center’s Perimeter Project, which is busy beautifying the center’s exterior landscaping to encourage event rentals. He’s also active in beautifying his own neighborhood. In addition to working on the River Park Tree Canopy Project, Ruth has been maintaining the entrance to River Park itself— including its beautiful fountain—and neighboring Glen Hall Park.

This dedication to his community has garnered Ruth quite a lot of accolades, including a Certificate of Appreciation from Councilmember Jeff Harris for his efforts to “improve the quality of life” in River Park, the C.K. McClatchy Tree Hero Award from the Sacramento Tree Foundation and an Award of Distinction from the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for his contributions to the school’s ability to “provide cutting-edge research, top-notch education and innovative outreach.”

While the recognition is nice, Ruth sees the attention being paid to these projects as a way to encourage others to get involved.

“I want people to know that places like River Park look good because of their neighbors,” Ruth says. “The parks staff are overloaded, so I’d like to see more people get involved to support them. It can be something as simple as volunteering to do a little trimming, pruning or watering.”

No green thumb required.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@ gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento.com. n

READERS NEAR & FAR 1. Keith Syda with Carlos Mendoza at an ancestral clay pot mescal distillery in Oaxaca, Mexico.

2. John, Kim, Lilly and Kennedy Buchholz on Rapa Nui, Easter Island.

3. Elizabeth Fujii and Monica Vazquezin in Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain.

4. Shelley Petavini and R. L. Porter at 2018 Pops in the Park.

5. Marilyn Mac Vicar in Tangier, Morocco.

6. Bridget Parsh with her mom, Anne Kitt, at the Acropolis in Greece.

7. Sigrid Schelle and her mom, Elizabeth Schelle, on a tour of Mayan ruins in Belize.

Take a picture with Inside Publications and e-mail a high-resolution copy to travel@insidepublications.com. Due to volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee all photos will be printed or posted. Find us on Facebook and Instagram: InsidePublications.

POC n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

15

Garden Variety COUPLE DREAMS BIG WITH BOTANICAL PROJECT

Linda Ching and Bruce Ritter

O

f the 35 largest cities in the United States, only two do not have botanical gardens, Sacramento and Fresno. Bruce Ritter and Linda Ching hope to leave Fresno alone on that list.

It could be years before a Sacramento botanical garden blooms, but the seeds are being planted. In January, Ritter and Ching co-founded the nonprofit Sacramento Botanical Garden and launched a capital campaign to raise $25 million to build the project.

For Ching and Ritter, the money is a small price to pay for value received.

“We need to recognize the importance of having green space,” Ching says.

“Being out in nature is great for your mental health, your physiology, but we need places to go.”

The Sacramento couple believes green space really is a question of civic priority, public access and even conservation. They recently returned from a trip to New Zealand where “they invest in their gardens. Public funding goes to cover the salaries of those running the gardens,” says Ching, adding, “Would we rather use our water to support a botanical garden or a golf course only used by golfers?”

Ritter believes the price tag of $25 million is relatively affordable. In April, the Sacramento City Council approved a $33 million contribution toward a soccer stadium planned by billionaire Ron Burkle. “And we’re asking for $25 million and an underused park,” Ritter laughs.

As for the site of a potential botanical garden, the couple has considered locations at Del Paso Regional Park and Granite Regional Park, a quarry that could be converted like Quarry Park in Rocklin.

“But one of our ideal locations would be associated with the zoo,” Ritter says. “We feel that a botanical garden partnered with a zoo is just a great idea.”

JV

By Jordan Venema Building Our Future

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www.djkitchen.com 916.925.2577 The timing could be right for a shared location. The Sacramento Zoo is making plans to relocate from Land Park, its home since 1927, under threat of losing accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The old zoo is only 14 acres, too small for large animals.

The North Natomas site of the former Sleep Train Arena is one possible location for a new zoo. The site is 183 acres, but the Kings control the land and have filed plans to create a mixed-use residential and business village. A zoo would need at least 100 acres, and Ritter says 50 acres are ideal for a botanical garden.

Ritter and Ching have met with five councilmembers or assistants to discuss support for the botanical garden. They recognize corporate sponsors will be essential.

“We’re open to the idea of naming rights, like the Sacramento Botanical Gardens at Kings Park, or something like that,” Ritter says.

The price and size of the garden will depend on location, but Ching and Ritter are far along in their vision. The garden will include a 20,000-squarefoot glass conservatory, water garden with giant lilies, demonstration and conservation garden, Chinese garden,

butterfly-pollenated garden, tropical garden and formal garden. Ritter hopes to convince local orchid growers to donate their plants.

“We have some of the best orchid growers in the country, and we can amass one of the best orchid gardens in the world right here,” he says.

The botanical garden will feature a wedding and event venue, as well as a “garden-to-fork restaurant that serves as much as we can grow in the garden,” Ritter says.

Additionally, Ritter wants the gift shop to support local artists.

“I want to have a section devoted to all the local artists and artisans and selling their work on consignment to give them an opportunity to show their work with no risk,” he says.

Ideally, the couple believes a botanical garden could be completed in seven to eight years. While Ching and Ritter continue to meet with city officials, they hope to raise donations through their website sacbo.org.

“If we don’t act quickly, there won’t be space available,” Ching says.

Jordan Venema can be reached at jordan.venema@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento.com. n

POC n INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM

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VISIT OUR ALL-NEW INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM FOR ADDITIONAL ARTICLES ON THE CITY BUDGET AND ARTS FUNDING.

City’s Death by Drugs IS SACRAMENTO DYING? WE SEE IT EVERY DAY

BY KAREN MARGARETA

A

into misdemeanors, not arrest these

My compassion has run out. It’s

With my neighbors, I patrol the

criminals, keep them out of jail and

tuned to anger. I don’t feel safe in my

streets and report things that aren’t

s a wife and working mom

give the money we save to schools. Who

neighborhood. I don’t feel heard.

right. I phone when I see drug dealing

whose family lives in Land

thought this was a good idea? And how

Park, I am thankful Cecily

much money has been given to schools?

Thefts under $950 are now

It wasn’t always this way. I used

and illegal camping. And I donate to

to give handouts to homeless people

Loaves & Fishes and the food shelters.

who looked sick or had children or a

We are a family that gives back to our

drugs and homeless problems in our

considered misdemeanors. That means

dog. Then I realized I was naïve. The

city. We are a pro-police family. We

city with her column, “Is Sacramento

on a daily basis, we have drug-addicted

money I handed out went to buy drugs.

support our officers as they try to figure

Dying?”

criminals stealing from our porches,

Evidence was everywhere.

out how to manage this mess.

Hastings shed light on the

It’s clear our city, county and state

breaking into our cars, walking into

Many times, I’ve been in a

Here is what our family sees on a

leaders are not willing to do anything

our grocery and convenient stores, and

neighborhood parking lot and found

daily basis: A heroin addict who has

but exacerbate the situation.

taking what they want because they

dozens of used needles. I’ve seen people

lived at 16th and Broadway for more

know the police won’t do anything

passed out in the streets with needles

than three years. A sex offender who

about it.

in their arms and legs in desperate need

panhandles in front of Taco Bell where

of medical attention. When I wrote to

kids go through the drive-thru. A man,

The roots of the crisis are not homelessness itself, but drugs.

Sacramento has a drug crisis, not

Why? Mayor Darrell Steinberg and

a homeless crisis. We have people

City Manager Howard Chan influence

our city leaders, they responded, “These

his face tattooed, who lives on the

whose addictions have caused mental

police priorities. And our leaders have

people are just down on their luck. All

streets and sells drugs. A man called

illness. They can’t make decisions for

made it clear that ordinances dealing

they need are homes and then this will

“The Collector” who scavenges and

themselves. So they live on the street.

with drug use, camping, urinating in

all go away.” No, it won’t.

steals and uses the proceeds to buy

Drug-addicted transients who choose

public, setting campfires in the street,

I went to City Council meetings

drugs.

to be homeless are taking over our

panhandling and prostitution are not

to describe the situation. Homeless

neighborhood. They camp under the

police priorities.

advocates harassed me, yelling,

basis. I know their names. They have

“They were there first.” At one

been offered services many times. They

W-X freeway. How did this happen?

Drive along the streets under the

I see these gentlemen on a regular

It wasn’t this way 23 or 15 or even 10

W-X freeway. Drugs are out of control.

council meeting, an audience member

always refuse. They are not hard-luck

years ago.

You would think Mayor Steinberg would

threatened me for speaking out. I

people who need a home. They need

take Measure U money and provide

needed a police escort to my car.

jail and rehabilitation. They choose

2014, when California voters approved

more for public safety. Nope, he wants

I shared my concerns with Mayor

to be this way. They are not part of a

Proposition 47. The initiative was

to bring development and new business

Steinberg. He wrote back and said it

homeless crisis. They are a drug crisis.

marketed as the “Safe Neighborhoods

to Sacramento.

would never happen again. I wish I

We started to notice a difference after

and Schools Act.” The pitch was, let’s turn many theft and drug felonies

18

POC JUN n 19

could believe him.

Karen Margareta and her family have lived in Land Park for 23 years. n

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19

Letters From Our Readers ‘EVERY DAY, I SEE HUMAN BEINGS LIVING IN THEIR OWN FILTH’ Editor’s Note: Inside Publications received an unprecedented response to last month’s Publisher’s Desk by Cecily Hastings which discussed the Sacramento homeless problem and the documentary “Seattle Is Dying.” The following letters reflect the urgency and anguish felt by our readers. The letters are edited for space.

Thank you for your powerful editorial. Eighty-thousand Sacramento voters receive your publication, so you have influence. I watched “Seattle Is Dying,” and it is a preview of coming events for Sacramento. A large portion of the millions being spent on Sacramento homeless should go to creating jobs, such as paying homeless people to clean up the city. Jobs would give them dignity and income to rent a room and begin productive lives. Good luck in your efforts to bring sanity and common sense to solving this cultural cancer.

R. Baskerville I work with Sacramento Regional Parks and am involved in the cleanup of the homelessness problem. The rise of homelessness and the downfall of societal institutions to deal with the problem have become more dramatic.

As a society we have taken away the ability of police to do their jobs, but we have also taken away places where this population could find assistance.

Our politicians have used a misguided sense of righteousness to dismantle the infrastructures we had to deal with drug abuse and mental illness. Every day I see human beings living in their own filth, unable to think or act coherently.

Randy Hart Bless you for so thoughtfully covering the subject of homeless!

There is a group of us in Land Park trying to keep our neighborhood from falling into a total state of chaos. We are trying to make changes but have nothing to back us up. It’s getting bad.

I worry about the Broadway Corridor, Freeport Boulevard, Land Park and Curtis Park. I am most disappointed

20

POC JUN n 19

in Mayor Darrell Steinberg. I voted for him because I thought he understood the problem. Now it is clear his “No Barriers” approach is leaving our city in shambles.

Marta Goetz I appreciate your courage to express the cold realities. There is hope, but continuing failed policies, not enforcing our laws and renaming issues to detract from the actual problem is not a path to improvement.

Scott Rowe When I moved my studio to Midtown three years ago, I swore I wouldn’t lock my doors. I used to come with my church and feed the homeless. Now my story has changed. I am so grateful I didn’t purchase in Sacramento proper.

I now keep the studio doors locked. I’ve had to call the police twice. I wish more people were willing to deal with the situation honestly and realize the harm it has already caused our city—not to mention what is yet to come.

Anne Sacco I have been a resident of the Land Park area of Sacramento since the early 1980s and have witnessed drug addicts and dealers on the streets in plain sight. In Land Park, we’ve experienced an increase of car break-ins and porch thefts. I have had two porch thefts.

Today I saw an apparent homeless opportunist, a young man on a bicycle, casing my block. I was in my driveway, looked directly at him, he looked back with an expression that seemed to say, “I know you know what I’m doing, but there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” He rode on, looking down each driveway.

It does not seem that the city is taking action to transition people to appropriate services based on specific situations. Police and support services are inadequately staffed to carry out related functions.

Shirley Hazlett I enjoy your publication but cringe when I read your Publisher’s Desk. I

am usually rewarded with a dose of hate against immigrants, African-Americans, the disabled, the working poor, the homeless and any group that might advocate for them.

Your recent issue was no exception.

You managed to conflate the homeless with crime. You paint the homeless with a broad-brush of criminality and lament the fact that law enforcement is not able to arrest them all and throw them in jail. Let’s not turn a bad situation worse by criminalizing the victims of our cruel economic and social policies.

Hugo I. Vera The neighborhood of Land Park is under siege by drug-addled homeless who live on the streets and in the park. They break into our homes, cars, garages and sheds, defecate, urinate and vomit wherever they choose and shoot up in plain sight. We regularly experience issues of aggressive confrontations at our homes, stores, gas stations, in the park, restaurants— everywhere we live, recreate and shop.

Now we have this report from a neighbor who posted a photo on social media of a transient masturbating next to a pile of porn, 150 feet away from a school. He is on Broadway every day. I have seen him.

These people need medical, mental and physical health assessments, and direction to proper services. Some should be incarcerated. And if you need temporary housing, bring in trailers, Tough Sheds, tents and toilets. If our military can live in tents and temporary structures when deployed, so can the homeless. This is not a housing crisis.

It is a drug crisis, and needs to be addressed as such.

Katy Grimes When a community decides to pursue the most affluent aspects of life, there will be hardship and displacement when no provisions are made to house the poor and the average wage earners.

When Sacramento built the new arena, single occupancy hotels were closed.

People who were barely hanging on to shelter went into the streets. The best

place for the new arena would have been Natomas if preserving housing stock for persons with very low income was a concern. Let’s spend money to house people.

Jacquelyn Sneed When I worked in health care for the homeless, we went by the 4040-20 rule: Twenty percent could be rehabilitated with a hand up, but 40 percent were mentally ill and 40 percent were criminals. The last two groups cost too much and were often chronic not amenable to rehabilitation. The answer is a new kind of “jail.” It would be more like a refugee camp. It can satisfy liberals if there is more freedom than a regular jail. And it can satisfy conservatives if the costs per day are significantly less than jail.

Guests who can’t behave need to go to a real jail. Unless Sacramento learns how to apply “tough love” solutions, our quality of life will continue to slowly spiral downwards.

Mike Thomas I’m happy to learn City Councilman Jeff Harris is taking a proactive approach. We can no longer ignore what’s happening. Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego are all declining as homeless populations grow out of control. We can turn this around, but first we must admit we have a problem.

Theresa Wells When I saw “Seattle Is Dying,” I was appalled to realize what was happening in one of our most beautiful cities.

You did a very important and brave service by confronting readers with the reality of what can happen to our city. Let’s be clear. An overwhelming number of people living on the streets are not “the homeless.” They are drug addicts who, sadly, have made very poor choices.

The term “homeless” tugs at our hearts. But words matter. Let’s be real and call this drug epidemic what it is.

Sandra Cleary n

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Larger Than Life CAN PORTRAITS BLOOM FROM B STREET THEATRE WALL?

Rendering courtesy of Vrilakas Groen Architects

R

andy Paragary has never built a hotel before, but he has built plenty of restaurants and bars, more than anyone in Sacramento. He figures the trickiest part of the hotel business, after securing the pile of dollars required to create one, is food service. On the dining and booze front, he’s already a local Conrad Hilton.

His first hotel, the Fort Sutter, is rising at the corner of 28th Street and Capitol Avenue, where Paragary’s flagship Café Bernardo stood for 25 years. Bernardo created a new dining style in Sacramento—a well-priced, classy environment without waitstaff coming around to take orders. Customers order at the counter. The concept still thrives in the region, including three Cafés Bernardo.

The old two-story building at 28th and Capitol had to come down to make room for

RG

By R.E. Graswich City Beat

22

POC JUN n 19

the Fort Sutter, which will stand six floors and hold 105 guest rooms. With construction crews hustling to finish by next spring, the corner is thick with hardhat activity. It’s difficult to remember what was there two years ago.

The hotel will complete the revitalization of a neighborhood that doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Civic boosters can gush about Downtown Commons, but the Sutter District, with its new Sutter Medical Center, new B Street Theatre, and reinvigorated bars and restaurants within walking distance to homes and apartments, draws locals. Fort Sutter Hotel will attract visitors who aren’t on convention junkets and want to enjoy Sacramento like a native.

And in the grand Sacramento tradition, this is where things get creative. The west side of the hotel will face the B Street Theatre and Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for the Arts. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a view from that perspective—a massive blank wall, rising almost 40 feet.

A 16-foot patio called “an activated pedestrian way” will separate the hotel from the theater complex. There will be plenty of room for tables and chairs on the patio. But

guests lodging on Fort Sutter’s lower floors along the west side will see little beyond the neighboring Sofia’s wall.

“That wall is an opportunity,” Paragary says. “We’re going to make it interesting and fun.”

Plans are still coming together, but Paragary and Buck Busfield, the visionary artistic director at the B Street Theatre, intend to turn the wall into a giant portrait gallery celebrating the faces of Sacramento.

Imagine the possibilities—giant-scale portraits of local folks painted by local artists and hung from the B Street wall.

Baby pictures. Family portraits. People will be able to rent the wall space for their images—with proceeds going to support the nonprofit B Street Theatre and Sofia Center.

The portraits will materialize from brush strokes of generosity. Locals

Randy and Stacy Paragary

Construction of Fort Sutter Hotel is in full swing at the corner of 28th Street and Capitol Avenue. will line up to have their images made immortal, or at least for a stillundetermined period of time.

Sacramento is a terrific town for public art. Fifty years ago, local artists founded the Royal Chicano Air Force and painted murals across the West.

Giant murals can be found at the Elks Tower on J Street and Residence Inn on 15th Street, where Johnny Cash stands 15 stories tall. A one-story Pat Morita overlooks T Street near 17th.

The portrait project will have a worthy purpose beyond charity. It’s

about neighbor helping neighbor. Fort Sutter Hotel and B Street Theatre will live alongside each other for decades.

It’s nice to see them already getting along.

If dressing up an empty wall helps hotel guests appreciate Sacramento, a few more gallons of paint are a solid investment.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento.com. n

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VISIT OUR ALL-NEW INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM FOR ADDITIONAL ARTICLES ON THE CITY BUDGET AND FUNDING.

Angelique Ashby

Let’s Be Responsible CITY BUDGET DOESN’T NEED MAYOR’S GAMBLE

BY ANGELIQUE ASHBY

I

’m proud of my Sacramento City Council colleague Jeff Harris for articulating his concerns about Mayor Darrell Steinberg’s proposed additions to our city budget.

The mayor wants to take out loans against sales tax income from Measure U. It’s a bonding scheme that could put city assets at risk and possibly bankrupt Sacramento if the economy stalls.

By contrast, the budget proposed

by City Manager Howard Chan is responsible and comprehensive.

Our city’s solvency and long-term sustainability must always be our paramount goal.

There are so many things we can do within the confines of our current budget. We do not need to put the city in jeopardy of insolvency.

The city manager has proposed a balanced and robust budget that includes millions of dollars for new investment in neighborhoods, arts, youth, public safety, parks and more.

It creates neighborhood economic development teams, a model that

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POC JUN n 19

has worked well in other cities to create investment. It funds millions in Strategic Neighborhood Action Plans and creates positions for a chief housing officer and Downtown urban housing ombudsman.

The city manager’s budget includes enhanced youth programs and resources to expand services and hours at libraries and community centers. It adds 5,000 hours of access to free internet, youth activities, Prime Time Teen, Hot Spots, homework help, Summer Night Lights and literacy programs.

The budget produced by Chan’s office includes a film commissioner— the top priority for the “Creative Economy” series of forums held citywide. The budget adds $550,000 to launch other Creative Economy priorities—along with the film commissioner position.

As for public safety, the city manager’s budget includes funds for body-worn cameras and the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force. It also funds the addition of 22 community service officers and 15 police officers. Additionally, it

funds a fourth battalion for Fire Department oversight and fully funds our firefighter academies.

In addition to the expenditures proposed by the city manager, the city has $50 million for one-time projects across Sacramento in every council district.

The list of proposals includes a library in Del Paso Heights, a restored amphitheater in Land Park, bike paths and the riverfront development in Greenhaven, funding for the Freedom School in Del Paso and Meadowview, major improvements to the South Natomas Community Center, a new South Natomas Garden and Arts Center, and funding for Northgate Boulevard improvements.

Also featured in the proposals are a restaurant for Winn Park, improvements along Capitol Mall, $1 million in free bus passes for youth, and gap funding for the community center and pool in North Natomas.

Civic benefits don’t stop there.

Beyond the proposed budget and these one-time expenditures, the City Council recently invested more than

$40 million to revive the waterfront in Old Sac. Earlier this year, we invested $18.1 million in programs requested

by Mayor Steinberg, including $16 million for homeless programs and $2.1 million for youth and community programs. Among the recipients were the Sims Center in South Sacramento and La Familia Center.

Last month, we committed another $13 million to the build out of homeless housing, with future wraparound care at Capitol Park.

We are investing heavily in neighborhoods, youth and economic development. And we’re working to address homelessness.

Yes, some budget funds will go to salaries and pensions promised to city employees. But this is not a zero-sum game. We must provide services and fulfill the city’s obligations.

The city manager’s proposed budget adds significant investment to our communities, but without risking bankruptcy—and without creating an ongoing debt to burden future city leaders for 30 years.

I’m proud of City Manager Chan and his ability to propose a budget that responds to the diverse requests of the City Council. His budget sets a strong precedent for investment in neighborhoods, essential city services, economic development, housing, literacy, youth and working with community partners.

It’s balanced. It’s fair. It honors our obligations and grows our investment in neighborhoods by millions of dollars.

Thank you to the supporters of Measure U. With your investment, we have an opportunity to better serve, and invest in, every part of our amazing city.

Angelique Ashby is Mayor Pro Tem and the Sacramento City Councilmember for District 1.

She can be reached at aashby@ cityofsacramento.org. n

Open Minded MINGLING MID-CENTURY MODERN WITH UNCLUTTERED CONTEMPORARY

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ai and Jeff Townsend have taken the notion of “open concept” to a whole new level in their recently renovated home on a cul-de-sac in Sierra Oaks. A bright orange entryway door leads to an immense light- and artfilled space that encompasses multiple zones for entertaining, cooking, dining and relaxing.

“My absolute favorite thing is the incredible openness of the room,” Jeff says. “I love how we created these selfcontained areas.”

The Townsends purchased the 1965 ranch-style home in 2017 from the estate of the original owner.

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By Cathryn Rakich Open House

“This property had great bones,” says Mai, who has a passion for interior design. “It was well built. Just very compartmentalized. The main thing for us was to create an open flow and space.”

The renovation took eight months under the watchful eye of Mai, who created the design plans. The couple gutted most of the 2,222-square-foot house, which they called a “time capsule,” leaving the exterior structure.

“It’s a brand-new house in an old shell,” Mai notes.

The Townsends moved to Sacramento from San Jose with their son Blaze and yellow lab Parker. In addition to wanting to be closer to Mai’s parents who live in West Sacramento, the couple saw potential in what the area offered.

“We fell in love with Sierra Oaks,” says Jeff, an attorney specializing in mediation work. “It was a whole new amazing life that was opening up to us.”

The Townsends hired an architect to ensure the structural integrity of Mai’s design. The general contractor was Exact Property Solutions. “I was

involved in the construction process and the micro decisions that needed to happen,” Mai says.

With a love for mid-century modern, as well as cutting-edge contemporary, the couple employed a color scheme of white, black, grey and tan with pops of color, especially in the original artwork throughout the home.

When designing the open interior, the Townsends gave a lot of thought to where and how to display their extensive collection of art, including several pieces purchased on a trip to Thailand, folk art from Mai’s native country of Venezuela, and work by Mai’s father, local artist Henry Parata.

“We wanted to properly display them without feeling cluttered and give each piece a special space,” Jeff says.

Keeping with the contemporary feel, Mai chose large grey commercial-grade tiles for the floor. “Because the tile is oversized, it makes the space look bigger,” she says. “I like the uniform, clean look.”

Mai’s favorite feature is the asymmetrical fireplace with a plaster finish that resembles polished concrete.

“It is one of the focal points of the house,” she points out.

The Townsends also recycled as much as possible, such as reusing most of the original interior wooden doors.

“We just put a spin on them,” Mai says, by painting one side of the doors black and adding new hardware.

The ultramodern kitchen showcases a 10-foot white quartz waterfall island with a wine fridge. The backsplash has geometrically patterned tile. The look is enhanced by two different styles of cabinets—sleek white thermofoil on top and warm walnut on the bottom.

To keep the interior uniform, “you will see a continuation of materials throughout the house,” Mai says. This includes using the same kitchen quartz countertops and tile backsplash in the bathrooms. The guest bathroom has the unexpected feature of a freestanding tub inside an oversized shower.

Mai does not exaggerate when she says she looked at 10,000 different light fixtures to choose just the right ones, including a Ukiyo ceiling light in the entryway. “This is one of my prized

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possessions. Lighting can be such a game changer when it’s properly done.”

Tips for homeowners considering a remodel? “Research,” Mai says. “By doing research you learn about how things should be done, so when you’re interviewing people you can question the process and see if they are knowledgeable enough to get the job done.”

Jeff jokingly touts the University of YouTube, which he says is “a fabulous

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resource to learn how something is done.”

The couple suggests going to open houses and taking home tours to get ideas. Also, be open to other people’s suggestions and always get three bids.

To recommend a home or garden for Open House, contact Cathryn Rakich at crakich@ surewest.net. More photography and previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento.com. n

Mai and Jeff Townsend with their son Blaze and dog Parker.

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VISIT OUR ALL-NEW INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM FOR ADDITIONAL ARTICLES ON THE CITY BUDGET AND FUNDING.

No Free Money

MAYOR’S SCHEME COULD MAKE CITY INSOLVENT

BY JEFF HARRIS

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ast year, when the Sacramento City Council voted to put Measure U on the November ballot, I dissented. The reason was simple.

I knew the city needed additional funds to deliver the parks, roads, public safety and other services residents expect. I appreciated how the permanent 1-cent sales tax would generate about $95 million each year.

But I knew some of the money produced by Measure U would have to pay the city’s current bills and future obligations. To say otherwise—to keep voters in the dark about our commitments to CalPERS pensions— was disingenuous.

I offered a different set of options for Measure U, but the Council moved forward with Mayor Darrell Steinberg’s proposal.

I spoke out at public hearings.

What I said was hardly revelatory.

Anyone who paid attention to our city’s finances would have known the obvious: The original Measure U, a temporary half-cent sales tax passed in 2012, was insufficient to cover our CalPERS obligations, which escalate annually through 2025.

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Now voters are learning the truth about Measure U. They are waking up to a different reality, finding that while Measure U was sold to voters as a wondrous tool for neighborhood youth services, equity, arts and jobs programs, it’s only partly that.

Despite what was promised in the campaign, some new Measure U dollars must be used to pay for core services and help cover the city’s pension obligations. But now Mayor Steinberg wants to turn Measure U into a bonding mechanism.

His plan to sell more than $400 million in bonds, and pay the debt service with Measure U revenue, will put our civic assets at risk and place taxpayers on the hook for 30 years for loans the city may not be able to repay.

The Measure U campaign promised salvation for neighborhoods. The new tax dollars would create investments and produce jobs and affordable housing and virtually everything anyone ever wanted. While the promises were tantalizing, they were misleading.

The extra half-cent does not generate enough revenue to realize all of the promises. But if we manage our budget well, we can achieve those goals in reasonable increments, without incurring massive debt.

The only promise made by the City Council to voters about Measure U was contained in the actual ballot language: “Shall the measure to protect and enhance essential public safety services, including 9-1-1 response, fire protection, community neighborhood policing, and other essential services, including homeless supportive services, affordable housing, libraries, park maintenance, high-wage job promotion, and youth programming, by enacting a one-cent sales tax generating $95 million annually that is legally required to stay in the city’s general fund, until ended by voters, with independent annual financial audits and citizen oversight, be adopted?”

Those are the words the City Council agreed upon when we placed Measure U on the ballot. Nowhere in the ballot language was it suggested the tax would be the vehicle to incur massive new debt.

But the ballot language was a small part of what voters saw. They were bombarded with rhetoric on numerous glossy mailers—typical for a campaign sales job. Today, I’m afraid, it’s clear many voters were misled. Voters were promised a lot, but perhaps did not read the ballot carefully.

The new fiscal year finds Sacramento with $52 million in available cash to allocate to projects within the scope of the ballot language. That’s a good thing! We have not had this much available cash for many years, and we can fund great programs and projects with it.

But by law, the City Council must balance the budget. We balance it with general fund money. Once the bills are paid, we can make investments with any remaining dollars.

The city cannot issue bonds against a general tax measure. To sell bonds the way Mayor Steinberg suggests would require collateral—our real estate holdings such as parks and fire stations, and even the Convention Center, once it’s completed.

Should we issue bonds collateralized by real estate, essentially mortgaging the city for “Inclusive Economic Development?” I think not. This scheme would expose the city to insolvency at the slightest economic downturn.

The better path is to adopt the city manager’s proposed budget. It charts a sound course, with substantial investments that align with City Council goals. It does not issue new debt.

It’s great to dream big. But bonding unwisely can lead Sacramento to bankruptcy, as happened to Stockton.

We must live within our means. We must balance our budget, meet our fiscal obligations and be reasonably conservative, since an economic downturn is always possible.

Homeowners should recognize the situation better than anyone. If you pull all the equity from your home and rely on that money to pay your mortgage, you are in a debt trap. You will likely lose your home.

The same rules apply to the city.

Jeff Harris is the Sacramento City Councilmember for District 3. He can be reached at jsharris@ cityofsacramento.org. n

Yukon Gold

Marsha Arnold

SHE’S READY TO PADDLE 444 MILES ACROSS CANADA

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here is no easy way to train for a race that requires two or three days in a kayak paddling 444 miles though the pristine wilds of the Canadian Yukon. For practice, there’s a 100-mile paddle event on the Sacramento River from Redding to Chico. But that’s hardly the same.

So how does Marsha Arnold, a 63-year-old case management nurse at Sutter Medical Center, get ready for the most difficult physical challenge of her life?

“You just have to be ready to paddle,” she says.

The Canadian adventure, called the Yukon River Quest, defies practice and preparation. It runs from Whitehorse to Dawson City and is staged over four days, June 26–29. The hardest part

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By R.E. Graswich Sports Authority

comes early, 41 miles after shoving off from Whitehorse, when the paddlers enter Lake Laberge, where the Yukon widens to 3 miles and resembles the North Atlantic on a cold day.

Waves rise without warning. They can swamp kayaks, canoes and fishing boats.

The water is frozen much of the year.

It thaws, but never warms up, not even in late June. Laberge is 30 miles long.

The sight of its northern tip, where the shorelines come into focus and the water returns to something like a river, is a welcome vision for Yukon River Quest competitors. And they still have 373 miles to paddle.

Arnold has been kayaking since age 30 when she trained for Eppie’s Great Race, the legendary local mélange of running, cycling and paddling. She quit smoking and cast aside her bad eating habits. Encouraged by her husband Doug Arnold, a former Navy pilot, she got serious in 2011. Somehow, she was drawn to events that make 5-kilometer races and half-marathons seem like warm-ups.

For Marsha, the number 100 holds a special appeal. She has participated in numerous running, cycling and paddle

events that stretch for 100 (or more) miles. She completed an ironman event, where participants swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112 miles and run 26.2 miles in one day. She ran the Vermont 100 Endurance Race and Boston Marathon. The California 100 kayak race—Redding to Chico—is a favorite.

“I love ultras,” she says. “But I realized I really don’t like running anymore. So my husband and I gravitated to cycling and kayaking.”

Despite her breathtaking athletic achievements, Arnold looks and acts like a normal person from East Sacramento. She is a grandmother, petite, soft-spoken and shy. When she realizes she is talking about herself, she stops and apologizes. She would rather listen than talk.

To prepare for the Yukon River Quest, she was assisted by the tight little paddling community in Sacramento. She acquired a two-page list of equipment and supplies, from sunscreen, bug coils and bandages to camping gear. As for the kayak, she will rent one at Whitehorse.

Strategic training is almost impossible. Friends told Arnold not to

enter the California 100 in May. They warned of injury risk. She entered anyway.

“Training is tricky,” Arnold says.

“It’s difficult to translate theory into what your body says it needs.”

She needed a paddling partner. Her husband is 10 years older, and has begun to limit his activities to cycling and photography. He will lend support and document the Yukon experience.

As a partner, she found Elaine Baden, a veteran kayaker from Richmond.

Baden attempted the Yukon race in 2017. For a while, Arnold wasn’t sure the partnership would hold water.

“At first, I was saying, ‘I’m doing this to finish,’ and she’s saying, ‘I’m doing this to win.’ That’s a big difference,” Arnold says. But as the race draws near, the women have found common ground for the chilly Yukon River. The goal is to paddle for two days and reach Dawson City safe, sound and proud.

R.E. Graswich can be reached at regraswich@icloud.com. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento.com. n

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Moffett Chapel

Finding Your Faith TAKE A PIVOTAL SPIN ON THE ALTAR

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magine taking a virtual plane ride today and meeting me in San Francisco for a 30-minute drive south to Moffett Federal Airfield, formerly known as Moffett Navy Air Station.

With my military ID we easily slide past the Smokey-Bear-hatted federal guards. A quarter mile in, we pull curbside and walk across the lawn to the Moffett Chapel, built in the style of the Spanish Colonial missions.

I’m comfortable here because this is where, in 1994, I took my first Air Force active-duty chaplain assignment.

Come inside. There’s something I want to show you.

We walk into the foyer and you pause, breathless before walls of stained-glass windows. But I didn’t bring you here to admire the windows.

I motion you onto the podium and past the Protestant altar holding an open Bible, candles and offering plates.

From there, we step into an alcove where a larger cross is affixed beside banners proclaiming faith.

Oddly, I ask you to push on the alcove wall.

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By Norris Burkes Spirit Matters

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You’re astonished that it moves.

With my assistance, we rotate what seems like a jumbo version of the Lazy Susan in your kitchen cabinet. This is what you’re here to see.

Suddenly, we’re standing under a crucifix surrounded by saintly statues.

Voilà, there it is, revealed as if by the moving wall of a military safe house.

We’re standing in a Catholic church.

I push again to expose what’s behind “Door No. 3”—a Jewish altar with the Torah.

You say, “This is nice chaplain, but I’m undecided about faith. I’m spiritual, but not really religious.”

“No problem,” I say. “Give that wall another shove.”

You do and are relieved to find yourself in neutral space. Nothing on the walls. No religion here.

Why have I brought you for a ride on the Lazy Susan altar?

To illustrate how one might make a choice for faith.

No, it’s not as simple as turning the Wheel of Fortune or spinning the theological bottle to determine where your doctrinal affections will lie.

You start your search at the beginning, perhaps on one of the traditional altars of your forefathers. Or take a spin in another direction, landing beside that of your spouse. It’s also possible to spin faith into something that represents your own journey. Or maybe you don’t see faith as having finite definitions, so you blend the moving altars.

But whatever you choose, deciding on faith will require you to make peace with the tensions that faith presents.

For instance, how does one explain the love of God in the midst of so much tragedy? Can you deal with the discrepancies of faith and the hypocrites inherent in all faiths and philosophies?

Can you repent of the sins of organized religions while at the same time reinforcing the humanitarian good they do?

I believe it’s possible to keep the faith of our parents while changing out the theological accessories. For me, I follow the Protestant faith of my father, but my worship isn’t confined to a hymnal or a pew. While I accept his faith, I reject the bigotry sometimes found in evangelical faith.

For others, it might mean keeping the faith in the Crucified Christ

displayed on the crucifix, but soundly rejecting the sins of the Fathers. It might involve rebuilding a place of worship that holds all women in high regard and safely shelters the children.

But if you must lean away from religion and toward the “spiritual,” all I ask is that you find a welcoming faith, not a generic faith that can turn cold, politically correct and emotionless.

Finally, if your faith journey ever takes literal flight toward the San Francisco Bay Area, give me a call. We’ll take a real drive to Moffett Field where together we can take our faith for a spin.

Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento.com. n

Why have I brought you for a ride on the Lazy Susan altar?

To illustrate how one might make a choice for faith.

A Place Called Home FORMER SACRAMENTO STUDENT REFLECTS ON WHAT THE CITY MEANS TO HER

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ast summer, Grace Mellberg, 17, moved with her family from Arden Park to Arizona where she is now a junior at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson. Leaving Sacramento was bittersweet for Grace, who attended Sacred Heart Parish School and St. Francis High School for her freshman and sophomore years. She has a love of the arts, both written and visual. This semester, Grace received an assignment at her new high school to write a poem. Inside Publications was inspired by how the words capture life in Sacramento through the eyes of a teenage girl—and we are pleased to share the poem with our readers.

WHAT IS SACRAMENTO TO ME?

BY GRACE MELLBERG It’s my favorite candy; first it’s sour, then it’s sweet.

It’s Tupelo Coffee and Roasting—-a place that acted as a sacred temple to high school students in the days leading up to finals.

It’s the friend who picks me up at the crack of dawn—no questions asked—because I need her to.

It’s the snow cone with cherry syrup that cooled kids off on hot, sweaty, chaotic, Fourth of July celebrations on the streets of East Sacramento.

It’s Mr. Chen—the locally famous tutor who lifted up both my math grade and my school spirit.

It’s Ladybird, a movie and love letter to my hometown that had Sacramentans beaming with pride as the film was nominated for five Oscars.

It’s holding my friend’s hand as we did what is a right of passage for teenagers in Sacramento—jumping off a bridge into the American River.

It's cookie-cutter decorations lining the streets of the Fabulous 40s during Christmastime.

It’s Eighth Hole, a mythical party location that always produced Monday morning gossip.

It’s coming home to a house filled with laughter from my big sister and her friends, a group of girls who were like a pack of wolves that would defend me from bullies.

It’s the anticipated victory every year of the Jesuit High School football team at Holy Bowl.

It’s my final brunch at Cafe Bernardo with one of my best friends before I moved.

It’s Tim Collom, a man who has sold most of Sacramento their homes and the paintings to go inside them!

It’s Tower Bridge, an emblem of the City of Trees, whose golden hue blinds spectators as the sun shines upon it.

It’s the rainbow-colored lightshow you see as you drive through the tunnel into McKinley Village.

It’s East Portal Park, a place for a first kiss, ice cream and heartbreak.

It’s a spread of green-checked fields with two meandering rivers sparkling in the California sun.

It’s a place I used to call home. n

THEATRE GUIDE DISNEY’S ALADDIN

JASPER

Discover a whole new world at Disney’s Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of Aladdin, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle.

It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.

Clarence is having a hard time. His career is in shambles, his love life has crumbled, and he’s been court ordered into psychotherapy to confront the source of his problems– his rambunctious imaginary friend, Jasper. But when the pair meets two women with an unusual relationship of their own, Jasper is forced to grapple with the reality of his unreal existence, and Clarence faces a choice between his best friend and his own future.

Physical comedy and irreverent repartee abound in JASPER, a warm hearted

Broadway On Tour Community Center Theater May 15 – June 2 1310 L St, Sac 916 557-1999 BroadwaySacramento.com

THE MOUNTAIN TOP

Celebration Arts Theatre Thru June 30 2727 B St, Sac 916 455-2787 Celebrationsarts.net The Mountain Top is a gripping re-imagination of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 3, 1968, after delivering one of his most memorable speeches, he retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel. A mysterious stranger arrives and King is forced to confront his destiny.

THE FOREVER QUESTION

B Street Theatre – Mainstage at SOFIA June 4 – June 14 2700 Capitol Ave, Sac 916 443-5300 BstreetTheatre.org Life comes at you fast. For young couple, Carolyn and Mike, life has been a series of questions that have led them to the biggest one yet: should they have a second child?

In this hilarious and inventive new comedy, winner of the inaugural B Street Theatre New Comedies Festival, playwright James Christy examines the small and not so small occurrences that build our lives and lead Carolyn and Mike to a question that could affect their lives…well, forever.

Big Idea Theatre June 14 – July 13 1616 Del Paso Blvd, Sac 916 9603036 BigIdeaTheatre.org

THE ROOMMATE

Sacramento Premiere Capital Stage June 19 – July 21 2215 J St, Sac 916 995-5464 Capstage.org Sharon, in her mid-50s, is recently divorced and needs a roommate to share her Iowa home. Robin, also in her mid-50s, needs a place to hide and a chance to start over. But as Sharon begins to uncover Robin’s secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely. A dark comedy about what it takes to re-route your life – and what happens when the wheels come off.

“The whimsical setup might suggest we’re heading into a modern descendant of ‘The Odd Couple,’ but there’s a more slyly subversive agenda in play. […] Silverman is an emerging talent to be reckoned with.”

The Los Angeles Times “Heartily entertaining! Full of surprises.”

Chad Jones, Theatre Dogs

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Stephanie Taylor's "Burned Trees," charcoal from the Camp Fire and vellum, at Archival Gallery.

TO DO THIS MONTH'S CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Simple Objects: An Excavation Archival Gallery June 4–29 Second Saturday Reception: June 8, 6 p.m.

3223 Folsom Blvd. • archivalgallery.com This installation of written recollections, photography, drawings, rescued objects and video taken from the Camp Fire devastation in Paradise is a collaboration between artist Stephanie Taylor and writer Christy Heron-Clark.

Unveiling the Soul Sacramento State University Saturday, June 15, 8 p.m.

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University Theatre, 6000 J St. • csus.edu/aba/hornettickets du/aba/hornettickets Sac State Professor Emerituss Andonia Cakouros presents a one-woman artistic performance erformance of Hellenic texts, dance, poetry, music usic ic and original writings. Proceeds go to the Greek eek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation and d Sa S Sacc State Department of Theatre and Dance. nce. Tickets are $18 for general and seniors; $15 for students.

By Jessica Laskey Andonia Cakouros

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Jay Welden: Following the Paint Tim Collom Gallery June 4–July 3 915 20th St. • timcollomgallery.com This solo exhibition of landscape and figure paintings will feature Jay Welden’s new work done primarily in oil—a newer medium for the well-known watercolor artist.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy Fairytale Town Saturday, June 22, 5-9 p.m.

3901 Land Park Drive • fairytaletown.org Celebrate Shakespeare’s popular play while enjoying all-you-can-eat Crystal ice cream, live music by Whiskey and Stitches, hands-on activities and more. Costumes are encouraged. Advance tickets are $15 for adults; $7 for children ages 2–12 (members save $3 per ticket).

Gold Spike Lecture Series: The Transcontinental as a Business Venture Sacramento History Museum Thursday, June 27, 7 p.m.

California State Railroad Museum, 125 I St. • sachistorymuseum.org MacArthur Fellowship winner Richard White will present a lecture on the Transcontinental Railroad from a business perspective as part of the partnership among the Sacramento History Museum, California State Railroad Museum, Center for Sacramento History and Crocker Art Museum to celebrate the railroad’s 150th anniversary. Tickets are $14 for general admission; $7 for museum members.

Jay Welden's "Lincoln Highway—Strawberry," oil on canvas, at Tim Collom Gallery.

Concerts in the Park Downtown Sacramento Partnership Fridays, June 7–July 26, 5–9 p.m.

Cesar Chavez Plaza, 910 I St. • godowntownsac.com The free weekly summer festival returns every Friday night. June’s bands include Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers, The Cripple Creek Band, Smith & Thell and So Much Light.

"The Race to Promontory: The Transcontinental Railroad and the American West" at Crocker Art Museum.

The Race to Promontory: The Transcontinental Railroad and the American West Crocker Art Museum June 23–Sept. 29 216 O St. • crockerart.org This exhibition celebrates the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah, in 1869. Photographers Andrew Joseph Russell and Alfred A. Hart documented the railroad’s path. Their original photographs and stereoviews—as well as archival materials— will provide a view into this transformative event, which allowed Sacramento to prosper.

Front Street Brewfest Front Street Animal Shelter Saturday, June 15, noon–5 p.m.

2127 Front St. • frontstreetbrewfest.com Join the city shelter for this 21-and-older block party to benefit the Front Street animals. Highlights will include unlimited beer tasting from regional breweries, food trucks, live music and games. Tickets are $60; nondrinker tickets are $10.

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Free Furniture Painting Demo The Treasured Home Saturday, June 1, 1–2 p.m.

9906 Fair Oaks Blvd. • thetreasuredhome.com Join The Treasured Home’s furniture painting pro and see how easy it is to transform a piece with paint.

Monthly Meeting Sacramento Suburban Writers Club Monday, June 10, 7–9 p.m.

Crossroads Fellowship Christian Church, 5501 Dewey Drive, Fair Oaks • sactowriters.org Enjoy workshops and speaker programs at meetings held the second Monday of each month. Speakers include authors, editors, agents and publishers who provide helpful insight into the writing and publishing world.

St. John’s Resounds: Home on Earth St. John’s Lutheran Church Sunday, June 2, 3 p.m.

1701 L St. • stjohnslc.org/stjohnsresounds Enjoy music related to the concepts of “home” and “earth” by Bach, Perkins, Rorem, Vierne and others with Dr. Ryan Enright on organ. Advance tickets are $17 for general admission; $13 for seniors. At the door is $20 for general admissiom; $15 for seniors. Children and students are free.

Reece Metzger's "Brickwork," mixed media, at Viewpoint Photographic Art Center.

Reece Metzger: 16 Hours Ahead—Images of Western Australia Viewpoint Photographic Art Center June 4–July 6 Opening Reception: Saturday, June 8, 5–9 p.m.

2015 J St. • viewpointgallery.org This series of photo constructions based on Reece Metzger’s visit to Western Australia in 2016 features images the artist transferred to fabric and stitched into collages.

Community Band Festival at Carmichael Park Sacramento Valley Symphonic Band Association Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Sunday, June 2, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Carmichael Park Amphitheater, 5750 Grant Ave. • svsba.net One of the largest community band festivals in California for more than 20 years, this event will feature 12 bands and ensembles. Admission and parking are free.

Assemblages by Steve Wiget Sparrow Gallery June 7–Aug. 5 Second Saturday Reception: June 8, 6–9 p.m.

1021 R St. • sparrowgallery.com Steve Wiget collects items he finds in nature and combines them with industrial elements to make eye-catching assemblages.

Ryan Enright at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

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Art Fair & Concert Heritage Oak Winery Saturday, June 22, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

10112 E. Woodbridge Road, Acampo • heritageoakwinery.com Taste some wine, take home some art and groove to some jams.

Beyond Ancestry.com Genealogical Association of Sacramento Wednesday, June 19, noon–2:30 p.m.

Belle Colledge Library, 5600 South Land Park Drive • gensac.org Speaker Nancy Loe will discuss 10 must-use sites for your genealogy research.

Sacred Ground Chanticleer Sunday, June 9, 5–7 p.m.

Trinity Cathedral, 2620 Capitol Ave. • chanticleer.org The Grammy Award-winning Chanticleer is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for its seamless blend of 12 male voices ranging from soprano to bass. The Bay Area-based chorale is celebrating its 40th anniversary this season with 50 concerts in the U.S. and two in Europe.

Sacramento’s concert will include music from the Spanish Renaissance, Anglican Chant, Hebrew Psalms and Early American Hymns.

Art Fair & Concert at Heritage Oak Winery.

6th Annual Sacramento Taco Festival Vida de Oro Foundation Saturday, June 1, 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

Chiura Obata: An American Modern Crocker Art Museum June 23–Sept. 29 216 O St. • crockerart.org This new exhibition explores the seven-decade career of Japan-born artist and educator Chiura Obata (1885–1975) who emigrated to the U.S. in 1903 and witnessed the mass incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The exhibition includes more than 100 paintings, drawings, prints and personal items—many of which have never been on public display—ranging from the artist’s early studies in Japan to his famous California landscapes.

U-HAUL/Wonderbread Building, 1324 Arden Way • sacramentotacofestival.com Eating contests, live music, professional wrestling, Chihuahua beauty contest and the largest selection of tacos in a single location. Advance tickets are $8; tickets at the door are $10; children 12 and younger are free. Net proceeds go to Vida de Oro Foundation, which promotes arts, education and economic growth.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. n

Chiura Obata, "Untitled (Pier)," watercolor on paper, at Crocker Art Museum.

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Must Be Present KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR GARDEN AND REAP THE REWARDS

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t’s debatable whether absence really does make the heart grow fonder. There’s no question that a gardener’s attentive presence makes a garden better. An observant gardener can identify pests and other problems early and keep up with the rapid changes that happen this time of year. Grab a bucket, have a hose with a powerful spray nozzle handy and take a daily stroll outside. Both you and your garden will benefit.

The bucket is good for collecting weeds and spent flower heads. Remove weeds as soon as you spot them, getting them out, roots and all, before they can set seeds. Deadheading flowers will make your garden look fresher and encourage continued bloom.

The hose is one of your most powerful pest-control devices, best employed early in the day so leaves will dry before

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By Anita Clevenger Garden Jabber

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nightfall. Got aphids? Blast them off with water. Is there powdery mildew on your roses and other plants? Rinse it off. Are your plants dusty or covered in webs? Give them a nice shower. Plants, like us, need to breathe through their pores. They look and feel better when they’re clean. Dust also attracts spider mites and whiteflies.

You may not see pests, but you often can spot their signs. Snails and slugs will chew leaves and leave telltale silvery trails. Many insects suck, chew and rasp plant tissues, doing a lot of damage. Generally, you can just squish them between your fingers or knock them into a bucket of soapy water.

Tomato hornworms are a particular garden nemesis and can virtually strip a tomato plant of leaves. It’s fairly easy to find their black droppings and damaged leaves, but it can be hard to spot the well-camouflaged, very hungry caterpillars.

Weed trees are a continuing problem in my yard because squirrels plant pecans and acorns in every potted plant and patch of ground. By the time you spot tree leaves, they will have sent down long tap roots into the ground. I go on regular tree patrol, armed with a trowel or shovel to dig out as much root as possible.

Sacramento gardens rely on irrigation to grow, but it’s not easy to ensure that everything in your yard gets the right amount of water. Different types of plants, in different conditions, require different amounts of water. In general, you want to water deeply when the soil is dry a couple of inches below the surface. Too much water will rot roots and increase weeds such as nut sedge. Too little water will stress or even kill plants. Check your irrigation system periodically to ensure that there are no leaks or malfunctions. Monitor the moisture by digging up soil from a plant’s root zone with a screwdriver or narrow trowel, or probing with a moisture meter. Once you know how wet the soil is, adjust the watering schedule and amounts accordingly.

Plants can grow out of bounds quickly, smothering more frail neighbors in the process. Cut back, move or remove plants that are getting out of hand. My husband tucks tomato shoots into the cages every day to keep them under control and trims the wisteria several times a year.

In June, spring-flowering annuals are fading and untidy as they near the end of their lives. Harvest their seeds, if you wish, and pull them out. Most people grow California poppies as annuals,

but they are really perennials, and will bloom again if cut close to the ground.

Be sure to pick produce at its peak for the best flavor and to encourage plants to keep on bearing fruit. Cut back herbs to keep them compact.

This sounds like a lot of work, but it’s mostly pleasure. Gardens appeal to all of your senses and soothe your soul.

Smell the flowers. Pop a cherry tomato into your mouth. Listen to the birds sing. Feel the coolness of the morning air. Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you, and appreciate the fact that you’ve nurtured this beauty and bounty.

When we go on a trip, friends and relatives keep an eye on things, but I’m always glad when we can resume our regular rounds. Our garden misses us, and we miss our garden.

Anita Clevenger is a lifetime Sacramento County Master Gardener.

For answers to gardening questions, contact the UC Master Gardeners at (916) 876-5338 or mgsacramento@ ucanr.edu, or visit sacmg.ucanr.edu.

Previous columns can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento. com. The next Open Garden will be June 15 from 9 a.m.–noon at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center, 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Fair Oaks. n

VISIT OUR ALL-NEW INSIDESACRAMENTO.COM FOR ADDITIONAL ARTICLES ON THE CITY BUDGET AND ARTS FUNDING.

Cuts to the arts budget might affect Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission project,s, such as Brian Valenzuela’s glass installation in 2016 at Golden 1 Center.

In the Cold ARTS GROUPS LEFT OUT OF MEASURE U BOUNTY

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n his successful campaign to pass the Measure U sales tax last November, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg exhibited tremendous confidence in City Hall’s ability to solve social problems.

The many promises Steinberg made during the campaign will be put to the test with the city’s 2019-2020 budget, which starts in July—just as Measure U dollars flow into the city treasury.

In his State of the City speech in January, Steinberg suggested placing 80 percent of Measure U money—about $40 million a year— into an “economic trust fund” for our neighborhoods. The fund would last five years and invest $200 million. I’ll get back to this idea later.

CH

By Cecily Hastings

During the first half of 2018, the mayor orchestrated a record number of neighborhood outreach events to get public feedback on budget priorities. The events were an obvious lead up to Steinberg’s Measure U campaign.

But this year, the outreach for budget planning was nowhere to be found. The mayor was largely silent on his promises.

In April, Dennis Mangers contacted me and described a “red alert” on drastic cuts to the city’s arts budget.

For more than a decade, Mangers has served Steinberg and former Mayor Kevin Johnson as a pro bono arts policy adviser. A former legislator and lobbyist, Mangers has deep ties to the arts community.

He explained that the 2019-2020 budget prepared by City Manager Howard Chan left only $400,000 for the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, plus one-time funding of $580,000. The county will add approximately $340,000, leaving the

Arts Commission a total budget of $1.32 million.

“That is $880,000 short of the minimum $2.2 million that is needed this coming year to fund the first phase of the Creative Edge Cultural Plan adopted by the City Council last year,” Mangers says. “Plus, we need another $6 million to fully implement the cultural plan.”

Arts leaders such as Mangers are frustrated because the proposed budget isn’t nearly enough to expand arts education, offer programs in underserved neighborhoods or reach other goals set by the mayor and City Council.

The $880,000 shortfall could be resolved by Measure U dollars.

The city is establishing a process to evaluate how to spend about $50 million from the 1-cent sales tax each year.

Arts groups were promised Measure U funds by Steinberg, but Mangers believes the creative community will be at a “great

disadvantage” when it competes against powerful labor unions, political action committees and business development interests.

He notes the 15-person Measure U advisory panel doesn’t include any representatives from the arts.

“The arts are a core city service, every bit as important as police, fire, public works, parks or any other sector of city responsibility,” Mangers says.

A powerful group of local developers and business leaders recently created the Sacramento Economic Growth and Equity Coalition to lobby the city on Measure U spending. Not surprisingly, the coalition founders included no arts groups.

Steinberg isn’t alarmed that the arts community is being left behind in the race for Measure U dollars.

“I see no problem getting the Measure U funding to the arts to the level as requested,” he says. “I just want to make sure that there’s money both for the creative economy and for investing in our neighborhoods.

And then contribute in a major way to economic development over the long-term.”

Rather than directly fund the arts from Measure U proceeds, Steinberg has talked about creating a “trust fund” from tax money to support the arts. The mayor expounded on the idea at an arts funding workshop April 29, where he called it an “endowment.”

Typically, when the term “endowment” is used in the arts community, it refers to annual income generated by donor gifts. Under Steinberg’s definition, it would be a highly controversial plan to use the bonding process to leverage city assets into cash, while tying the city to ongoing debt-service payments.

Councilmember Jeff Harris pushed back at the mayor’s idea of securitization at the council’s budget committee meeting. Harris is CONTINUED TO 39

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Suzy Price and Linda Fall

Rock and Roll

CLAY ARTISTS CREATE COLORFUL AND CLEVER CUSTOM TOTEMS

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ock Bottom Clay Arts—the ceramic business owned by longtime friends Suzy Price and Linda Fall—is not named for low prices, nor for a low point in life.

“We named it Rock Bottom because the totems literally have a giant

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By Jessica Laskey Open Studio

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POC JUN n 19

rock at the bottom that keeps them steady,” Fall explains with a chuckle.

Since last August, Fall and Price have created 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-foot ceramic structures they call totems— colorful displays of manmade rocks in all shapes, sizes and textures stacked together on a steel pole and rooted to a strong rock or welded metal base for display in the home or garden.

Neither women started their careers as artists. Price spent 30plus years in advertising for The Sacramento Bee. Fall worked for Chase for 30 years before “banking burnout” landed her a second 15-year

career fitting hearing aids for the elderly. But they’ve both embraced this new path with unbridled enthusiasm.

“I spend more time doing this every day than I ever spent at my corporate job,” Pocket-area resident Price says.

“It’s always an adventure.”

Fall, who lives in Curtis Park, concurs. Although she finds the process much more restful than her friend. “Working on ceramics is so meditative,” she says.

In fact, it was Fall’s interest in the art form that got the duo started in the first place. A lifelong art lover,

Fall decided to take a pottery class at the Panama Pottery arts collective and found that the soothing, methodic work fit her personality perfectly. She convinced Price—whom she’s known since both women were in their 20s— to take a crack at the class and now they share a love of clay that didn’t take long to blossom into a business.

“We were taking a class on totem making,” Fall recalls, “and my teacher looked at mine and said, ‘Someone will want to buy that.’ I replied, ‘For how much?’” Fall laughs.

“I realized that maybe people would

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like these enough that I could sell them.”

After procuring the proper business licenses—“a fulltime job in and of itself,” Price says—the friends got to making. Each totem can take more than 20 hours to craft—not counting the more than 22 hours it takes to bake each piece in a kiln—and with commissions starting to roll in, Price and Fall are suddenly swamped in the best way possible.

“I sometimes wonder what we did with our time before this,” says Price, who works the clay daily after getting design inspiration while driving. “We’re always thinking of new things.”

The totems are created as a joint effort, with both women suggesting pieces to put on the pole and discussing the layout as they go.

Each piece is completely unique and depends on the client’s desires—a preferred color scheme is always taken into consideration—as well as the totem’s height and intended usage.

Because the pieces are weatherresistant, they can be placed outside

heidibattani@gmail.com in a garden or they can elegantly complement an interior. Fall has many in her spacious yard, including some of their newer Totem Pops, which are only 2-feet tall and look wonderful clustered together. Each piece is customized for the buyer, such as the paw print and name of a beloved pet or a symbol of someone’s field of work etched into the clay.

Thanks to the totems’ clever design that mimics stringing beads on a necklace—which can be done or undone in a matter of minutes—they can easily be moved to a new location if the mood strikes.

“People are staying home more than they used to,” Fall says, “so why not decorate your space with something that makes you feel happy every time you look at it?”

Prices range from $30 to $425.

For more information, visit rockbottomclayarts.com.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Previous profiles can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento.com. n

CONTINUED FROM 37

Couch potato no more.

sacpetsearch.com sspca.org happytails.org saccountyshelter.net Brought to you by the animal lovers at

INSIDE PUBLICATIONS

highly critical of the idea. He calls it “mortgaging our city.”

A similar scheme resulted in the Stockton bankruptcy of 2012, Harris says. The councilman questions the legality of sequestering new Measure U funds into a special funding pool for economic development only.

“Measure U was passed as a general use tax and not a special use tax,” Harris says. “We have tremendous needs in our city without taking on a whole slew of new projects.”

Steinberg is confident about his approach, despite the risks expressed by council colleagues.

“Securitization leads to an opportunity to make the arts more sustainable and recession proof. I think there’s a great possibility we can make this happen,” the mayor says.

Inside will have in-depth coverage of this controversial idea in future months.

Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. n

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Dining Alfresco

PARK-SIDE RESTAURANT FUSES MEXICAN FLAVORS WITH CALIFORNIA FAVORITES

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F

ace it, we’re an outdoor town.

Nine to 10 months out of the year, you can dine alfresco, sip drinks on rooftops or throw a party on the riverbank.

In March, we saw more rain than sun, but when that sun came out so did everyone in town. Drake’s BARN in West Sacramento had so many people on the first sunny day in March that it nearly ran out of beer. Paragary’s legendary Midtown patio has full seating on any day the sun shines.

Picnics abound. Spontaneous gatherings coalesce around decks, poolsides and porches.

Sipping margaritas and eating fine Mexican fare by a bustling Sacramento park, then, makes all the sense in the world. La Cosecha is a festive, unfussy restaurant that takes full advantage of its sizable patio space, outdoor bar and natural surroundings. Tucked into the

GS

By Greg Sabin Restaurant Insider

south side of Cesar Chavez Plaza, this Sacramento restaurant takes over a city-owned building that has been more of a grab-n-go snack shack in previous years.

Restaurateur Ernesto Delgado moved into the space in 2017 and put some signature spins on the concept right away. His first move was to partner with chef Adam Pechal to help design the menu. Also lending a hand was cocktail expert Chris Sinclair.

The blending of styles and influences makes this spot a true expression of Sacramento dining. Whereas Delgado’s other restaurants, Tequila Museo Mayahuel in Downtown and Mesa Mercado in Carmichael, are much more about highlighting the bounty and diversity of Mexican cuisine, La Cosecha is a delightful fusion of Mexican flavors and California-casual favorites.

On La Cosecha’s menu you’re just as likely to find a queso-laden burger as you are a taco. In the bar, you’ll find mezcal in your Moscow Mule and maybe even snuck into your Old Fashioned.

The mash-up of flavors and ingredients makes for a fun, cheeky dining experience.

On a bright summer’s day or languidly warm evening, the large outdoor patio surrounding two sides of La Cosecha’s cozy interior is a place to dine, drink and enjoy the weather. On an especially hot weekend, sneak in early and take advantage of a wonderfully fun brunch under spreading leaves in the City of Trees.

You can start your meal with a perfectly serviceable guacamole or step a little bit livelier with a dish of chilled shrimp in salsa verde or a bowl of esquite, a mixture of corn kernels, lime, cotija and crema. Or you could just stick with the surprisingly good chips and salsa. It seems odd to mention chips and salsa in a restaurant feature, but, trust me, they’re good enough to mention.

On the more traditionally Mexican (or at least California-Mexican) side of the menu, the Mission-style burritos are spot on with beautifully browned tortillas, well spiced rice, and more meat and beans than are recommended in one sitting. The fish tacos are a real standout, featuring gorgeously fried fish, crema and pickled vegetables. My good friend Bob, the same chap who last

month proclaimed that Luigi’s Pizza had his favorite crust in town, claimed the fish tacos are some of the best he’s had in recent memory. Now you might think him a generous critic, but I know he rarely gives praise if it isn’t due.

On the fun side of things, the Torta Delgado is simply one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. Expertly sautéed shrimp, jicama slaw, bacon and a creamy chipotle sauce all served on perfect ACME bread make for bite after bite of pure joy. My wife watched me eat the thing with a look of amazement on her face as I tried to wedge the sandwich through my rather goofy smile. I will be back soon, and often, for that sandwich.

Without a doubt, the bar is a gathering place. A large outdoor area and a smaller indoor space make La Cosecha a pretty good bet day or night.

A creative bar menu, mixing Mexican spirits with American recipes, makes for some fun and refreshing combinations.

Seasonal sangria can tempt even the most temperate souls on a particularly hot day.

Thanks to its prime Downtown location—just blocks from the Golden 1 Center, across the street from City Hall and just steps from city-center hotels—La Cosecha is a convenient and laid-back destination whether you work, live or play Downtown. It’s a good spot to enjoy the weather, no matter what the weather may be.

La Cosecha is at 917 9th St.; (916) 970-5354; lacosechasacramento.com.

Greg Sabin can be reached at gregsabin@hotmail.com. Our Inside Sacramento Restaurant Guide and previous reviews can be found and shared at the all-new insidesacramento. com. n

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DOWNTOWN

Mayahuel

Cafeteria 15L Classic American dishes with millennial flavor 1116 15th Street • 916.492.1960 cafeteria15l.com

Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters Award-winning roasters 3rd and Q Sts. • chocolatefishcoffee.com

Mexican cuisine with a wide-ranging tequila menu 1200 K Street • 916.441.7200 experiencemayahuel.com

Old Soul Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 555 Capitol Mall • oldsoulco.com

Preservation & Company

de Vere’s Irish Pub

Preserving delicious produce from local farms 1717 19th Street #B • 916.706.1044 preservationandco.com

A lively and authentic Irish family pub 1521 L Street • 916.231.9947 deverespub.com

INSIDE’S

Solomon’s Delicatessen

Downtown & Vine

Taste and compare the region’s best wines 1200 K Street, #8 • 916.228.4518 downtownandvine.com

Opening summer of 2018 730 K Street • Solomonsdelicatessen.com

South Timeless traditions of Southern cooking 2005 11th Street • 916.382.9722 weheartfriedchicken.com

Ella Dining Room & Bar New American farm-to-fork cuisine 1131 K Street • 916.443.3772 elladiningroomandbar.com

OLD SAC

Esquire Grill Classic dishes in a sleek urban design setting 1213 K Street • 916.448.8900 paragarys.com

Firestone Public House Hip and happy sports bar with great food 1132 16th Street • 916.446.0888 firestonepublichouse.com

Fat City Bar & Cafe American cuisine served in a casual historic Old Sac location 1001 Front Street • 916.446.6768 fatsrestaurants.com

The Firehouse Restaurant The premiere dining destination in historic setting 1112 2nd Street • 916.442.4772 firehouseoldsac.com

Frank Fat’s Fine Chinese dining in an elegant interior 806 L Street • 916.442.7092 frankfats.com

Rio City Café California-inspired menu on the riverfront 1110 Front Street • 916.442.8226 riocitycafe.com

Grange Restaurant & Bar The city’s quintessential dining destination 926 J St. • 916.492.4450 grangesacramento.com

Hot Italian

Willie’s Burgers A quirky burger joint 110 K Street • 916.444.2006 williesburgers.com

Remarkable pizza in modern Italian setting 1627 16th Street • 916.492.4450 hotitalian.net

THE HANDLE

La Consecha by Mayahuel

Unmatched sweet sophistication 1801 L Street, #60 • 916.706.1738 gingerelizabeth.com

Casual Mexican in a lovely park setting 917 9th Street • 916.970.5354 lacosechasacramento.com

Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates

Mulvaney’s Building & Loan

Ma Jong Asian Diner A colorful & casual spot for all food Asian 1431 L Street • 916.442.7555 majongs.com

Farm-fresh New American cuisine 1215 19th Street • 916.441.6022 mulvaneysbl.com

Old Soul

The Waterboy

Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 1716 L Street (rear alley) • oldsoulco.com

Classic European with locally sourced ingredients 2000 Capitol Ave. • 916.498.9891 waterboyrestaurant.com

The Rind A cheese-centric food and wine bar 1801 L Street # 40 • 916.441.7463 therindsacramento.com

Zocolo Tastes inspired by the town square of Mexico City 1801 Capitol Avenue • 916.441.0303 zocalosacramento.com

MIDTOWN

Open Summer 2018 • 2940 Freeport Blvd. chocolatefishcoffee.com

Award-winning neighborhood bakery 2966 Freeport Blvd. • 916.442.4256 freeportbakery.com

Block Butcher Bar

Iron Grill

Specializing in housemade salumi and cocktails 1050 20th Street • 916.476.6306 blockbutcherbar.com

A mecca to hearty eating 2422 13th Street • 916.737.5115 irongrillsacramento.com

Centro Cocina Mexicana

Riverside Clubhouse

Mexican cuisine in a festive, colorful setting 2730 J Street • 916.442.2552 paragarys.com

Traditional Amercian classic menu 2633 Riverside Blvd. • 916.448.9988 riversideclubhouse.com

Federalist Public House

Selland’s Market-Café

Signature woodfired pizzas and local craft beers 2009 Matsui Alley • 916.661.6134 federalistpublichouse.com

Family-friendly neighborhood café 915 Broadway • 916. 732.3390 sellands.com

Lowbrau Bierhalle

Taylor’s Market & Kitchen

Modern-rustic German beer hall 1050 20th Street • 916.452.7594 lowbrausacramento.com

A reputation for service & quality 2900 & 2924 Freeport Blvd • 916.443.5154 taylorsmarket.com

Old Soul at The Weatherstone

Vic’s Ice Cream & Café

Artisan pastries and roasted coffee 812 21st Street • oldsoulco.com

Family owned since 1947 3199 Riverside Blvd. • 916.448.0892 vicsicecream.com

Paragary’s French inspired bistro in chic new environment 1401 28th Street • 916.457.5737 • paragarys.com

The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar

Willie’s Burgers A quirky burger joint 2415 16th Street • 916.444.2006 williesburgers.com n

A focus on all things local 2718 J Street • 916.706.2275 • theredrabbit.net

Revolution Wines Urban winery and kitchen 2831 S Street • 916.444.7711 • rev.wine

Sac Natural Foods Co-Op Omnivore, vegan, raw, paleo, organic, glutenfree and carnivore sustenance 2820 R Street • 916.455.2667 • sac.coop

LANDSCAPES CONSTRUCTION Residential • • • •

Exterior Lighting Pruning Plantings & Sod Full Landscaping

916-648-8455 POC JUN n 19

Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters

Freeport Bakery

Suzie Burger

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Outstanding dining in a garden setting 2760 Sutterville Rd. • 916.452.2809 casagardenrestaurant.org

Legendary chef, cookbook author Biba Caggiano 2801 Capitol Avenue • 916.455.2422 biba-restaurant.com

Raw, organic nutrition from local farms 1912 P Street • 916.341.0327 • sunandsoiljuice.com

Cont. Lic. #1024197

Casa Garden Restaurant

Biba Ristorante Italiano

Sun & Soil Juice Company

• Drought Tolerant Landscapes • Consultations • Sprinklers & Drainage

LAND PARK

Neighborhood References • Since 1984

IRON GRILL 2422 13th/Broadway Banquet Room available: capacity 90

Burgers, cheesesteaks and other delights 2820 P Street • 916.455.3500 • suzieburger.com

Tapa the World Traditional Spanish & world cuisine 2115 J Street • 916.442.4353 tapatheworld.com

Temple Coffee Roasters 2200 K Street • 2829 S Street 1010 9th Street • templecoffee.com

Contact Sylvia 916-737-5115 irongrillsac.com

INSIDE

OUT IMAGES BY CECILY HASTINGS

The annual McKinley Rose Garden Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast and Kick Off to the Season was held Saturday, April 27. More than 90 volunteers learned skills needed to keep the rose garden looking good throughout the season.

To volunteer with Friends of East Sacramento, email friendsofeastsac@aol.com.

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