Bill Russell, philosopher and basketball legend, told me what he thought of Sacramento when he moved to town in 1987 to coach the Kings.
He said Sacramento was Fresno with a capitol.
I exaggerate when I say Russell moved here. He disliked Sacramento so much that he lived in Rancho Murieta, a golf community on Amador County’s doorstep.
Thanks to sports, Sacramento State University has become an institution of higher incoherence.
The school is on a mission to Jupiter without a guidance system. If there’s a realistic destination, it’s not on Google Maps.
Sac State’s foolishness became obvious several weeks ago when the athletics department circulated an email titled, “Future Hornet Stadium Survey.”
As an alumnus (graduation pending from 1978, nine units short), I couldn’t pass up the survey.
There are questions about how often I visit campus (about once a year), why I visit (to look at the buildings) and how often I attend Hornet football games (maybe once every three years).
The city’s condemned bicycle bridge over Interstate 5 and Riverside Boulevard insults a local icon. Recently poured substandard concrete embarrasses a 52-year-old monument.
I’m talking about the railroad bridge next to the doomed bike span.
These days, the old rail bridge is defaced by graffiti and brutalized by construction framework related to the new span next door. But there’s nothing wrong with the old freeway overpass.
Inside Sacramento publishes 12 tons of local newspapers each month with our 80,000 printed copies. Our commitment to community print is among the most substantial in Northern California.
We also provide digital content, but our digital reach is about 25% of the print version. We’re bullish on the printed page.
Inside manages to buck the trend of printed words replaced by digital content. Our local advertising base gives us a tremendous advantage. I’m grateful for every advertising dollar that allows you to hold this free publication each month.
When I meet readers, they often tell me they love getting our top-quality local news in print. Many say it’s the only print product they read. Some enjoy Inside so much with their coffee they stretch out the experience the whole month.
Lewis Mumford, the great 20th century urbanist, social critic and author, was on target decades ago when he wrote, “Under the present dispensation, we have sold our urban birthright for a sorry mess of motorcars.”
Mumford was talking about sprawling suburban communities and their worship of wide streets and fast thoroughfares. Sacramento is finally getting Mumford’s message.
No one is predicting the automobile’s demise. But it’s encouraging to see city officials take pedestrian and cyclist safety more seriously with its Quick Build infrastructure program, designed to make streets work for everyone, including people not driving on them.
Next time you get an urge to shop, try thrifting instead of buying new. Linnea Bohan knows why.
Inspired by her love of thrifting, Bohan, a junior at Rio Americano High School, received a Climate Leaders Fellowship. The program engages young leaders to find climate solutions—one of which is thrifting, rather than buying new clothes.
For the fellowship, high school students around the world identify local climate impact opportunities and complete a 12-week capstone project with help from advisers and peers.
