Fatal Reaction

Fatal Reaction

May 28, 2025

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.

Healthy Option

Healthy Option

Mar 28, 2025

The last time Dr. Lou Vismara had an idea this big it turned into the UC Davis Mind Institute, a renowned research center for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Vismara, 81 and retired from his cardiology practice, is at it again. He teamed with developer Angelo Tsakopoulos to plan a 2,800-acre project on Tsakopoulos’ property that spans parts of Folsom and two counties, Sacramento and El Dorado.

The development includes what Vismara and Tsakopoulos call a “Community for Health and Independence” that can be replicated elsewhere.

Designed for elder residents and people with disabilities, the plan counts the UC Davis Health Center and Sacramento State University as partners. Although it must survive governmental reviews before anything gets built, the new community is generating excitement and consternation.

Verbal Sparring

Verbal Sparring

Feb 28, 2025

I met Bill at Baylor University. He was a fellow ministerial student who imprinted his fraternity shirt with a mock Latin phrase, “Quid tibi est?”

In 1978, Google was a long way off, so my fellow pledges asked him to translate it.

“What’s it to you?” he asked.

“Oh, come on,” we said. “Just tell us what it means.”

Mocking us as lowly plebes, he weighted the last two words, “What’s it TO YOU?”