When Phoenix Park was constantly characterized by names such as "Crime Ridden G Parkway" and "Troubled Franklin Villa", etc. the news labored our senses almost daily with stories of shootings, murder, break-ins, drugs and general crime statistics. At the time, the police department wrung its hands in dispair. It was helpless against the G Parkway crime wave. Now, since the City, through SHRA, has taken over nearly all this neighborhood, turning it into another '60s Low Income Housing Project, the city as well as the media is almost completely silent about unfortunate events in this area. No more crime? Hah! Just the other night a townhouse at 4219 Savannah Lane was shot up, leaving mult

In the aftermath of the fire that destroyed the former Paul Blanco aka Cal Worthington dealership at the corner of Franklin Blvd. and Florin Road, I read a lot of hilariously scary comments about the area in the Bee. Seems a number of individuals drive through the area with their doors locked and a firm grip on the wheel for fear that loiterers will assault them. Some claim even the police keep their doors and windows locked and look straight ahead as they cruise down Franklin and/or Florin. Boy, you'd think we're talking about driving through Homs in Syria or something. Just because some people are big and black doesn't mean they're bad guys out assaulting law-abiding citizens. I'

  The southern stretch of Caselli Circle, reinvented as Creeks Edge in order to distance itself from the infamous now defunct Franklin Villa, ends at Franklin Boulevard. Directly across the street lies the driveway to a church parking lot. There is a traffic light at this intersection, but no left turn arrow for drivers. They have to wait and hope they can make the turn before the light changes. On the east side of Franklin, where there is only the driveway, There is a pedestrian walk/wait light for pedestrians who want to cross the driveway. The driveway is used very little except on weekends. Even then the traffic is light. Pedestrian traffic along this stretch of Franklin is very ligh

I just received the following on my website. I'm not quite sure why because I normally write about fictitous crime and criminals. But I thought it interesting enough to pass on.  I know many Sacramento Press readers have no sympathy for landlords (You know who you are), but I thought I should pass this on anyway. «I need back-up on this!! Had my rental property inspected...by "Willie"...he listed items to be fixed and said to have my handyman call him when he was out to fix things and he'd go over it with him. He had him rig something under the sink in a way my guy thought was 'the dumbest thing he's ever done"; then he said "go ahead and do it like this" regarding a firewall around the w