StoneBridge Properties, the developer of East Sacramento housing project to replace Sutter Memorial Hospital, had dozens of meetings with over 700 residents regarding their 20-acre project. The Curtis Park Village developer had 220 community outreach meetings with Curtis Park and Land Park residents during the development of that 72-acre project. The McKinley Village developer has had exactly two meetings with community members since it restarted its 48-acre project in 2013. There was community outreach five years ago when the project was first proposed by nothing significant or meaningful in 2013. Considering the scope and possible impacts of this project, is that good enough? People become “NIMBYs” when presented with no real dialogue as to the changes brought by developers and their projects. It is nice to see that some developers can get it right while others are hoping to ride on the social and political currency of having Phil Angelides involved in the project. Does that sound like good planning to you? If you would like additional information regarding the McKinley Village project and how it will impact Midtown and East Sacramento, please send an email to Marshall.newera@gmail.com

I can appreciate that Sacramento Unified School District has to make some tough decisions regarding school closures. The question no one has asked is “What to do with an empty school?” It is a question the School District does not find too much time to contemplate. I know this from personal experience. I live across from Old Marshall School at 28th and G Street which has become a blight to our neighborhood since the Montessori School left in 2009 after a short occupancy at Old Marshall School. Please consider Old Marshall School a cautionary tale for the neighborhoods that may be losing their schools, including Washington Elementary School. As a neighbor to a vacant school, my neighbors and I face a number of challenges. First, the School District stops maintaining the landscaping so the grass dies. Then the illegal dumping of couches and mattresses start appearing on the alley side of Old Marshall School. Old Marshall School is a wooden building originally built in 1903 and designed by Rudolph Harold, the same architect that designed Sacramento’s City Hall. My neighbors and I are constantly vigilant against the threat of vandals and vagrants breaking into the building or burning it down. Having a vacant school as a neighbor brings blight and lower property values to the community losing the school. I certainly hope the School District does a better job of figuring out what to do with these “soon to be abandoned” school properties. Old Marshall School provides a glaring example of how poor leadership and a lack of vision can impact a neighborhood. The School District’s solution to safeguard Old Marshall School was to erect a cyclone fence around it and then forgot about it. We are now left with an elegant building surrounded by an ugly fence with no plan for its future. Don’t let this happen to your neighborhood when the School District closes your school. Demand a plan from the School District regarding the “soon to be abandoned” school properties. Who is responsible for the declining property values for the houses surrounded these abandoned schools? What compensation is fair for the neighbors left to deal with the issues of the abandoned schools?

Thanks for the clarification Melissa regarding the transfer protest issue. As I understand it, Harlow’s situation is considered a “Person-to-Person” transfer by ABC. I have consulted with the District Administrator for ABC every time this type of transfer has come up at 28th and J Streets for past two years. Every time I am told by the District Administrator that citizen protests are not considered legally valid protests in this type of “Person-to-Person” transfer. In this instance, legally valid protests must originate from a governmental entity. I am quite perplexed that Vito Sgromo has not taken the time to determine the correct process for filing a valid legal objection with ABC. It would seem an exercise in futility to continue to file invalid protests that are contrary to ABC's legal procedures. I just don't understand what is gained by wasting tax dollars and the time of ABC personnel on processing an invalid objection. I hope this information provides Vito Sgromo with some additional insight and understanding as to how to be effective and submit a proper, legally valid objection with ABC.

CTF: Thank you for taking time away from processing your friend's death to post your comment. People do not always act their best in the face of senseless tragedy. My neighbors and I are sorry for your loss.

This is exactly what this corner of the world needs!! Thank you so much for opening. Can't wait to check La Bombe.