What is Sacramento about anyway?

[kupman]

Everything I listed involves getting out of the house. Go to a 2nd Saturday. It's a street carnival. The city I live in now has an amusement park attraction but that isn't really the draw for anyone but average tourists. Cities are defined by their feel. Sacramento's problem is that it has let a lot of long time establishments go to the grave, and they have been replaced by character-less chain establishments or become empty lots. People see themselves surrounded by Olive Garden and Cheesecake Factory, then wonder where Disneyland is and end up finding nothing. That is where the identity issue comes from.

I have been to many a second Saturday and it is a great time. I have always enjoyed the day dates with the walks that you describe. Also, a great time. You are very correct about these experiences. Not dogging these experiences at all as they are very delightful.

However, I have had very similar experiences in much smaller towns. I am talking 10k -100k sized towns. I think Sactown could really use another level of entertainment given that it is 2 million +.

Keep the Mayberry feel with the added dimension of some first rate entertainment.

 

[ArcoKings]

I live in San Bernardino County and I absolutley hate to hear when people in L.A. refer to Sacramento as being a Cow Town. If Sac is a 'cow town' (whatever the hell that is) I'll take it over Los Angeles any day. L.A. is over populated, expensive, illegals hawking their goods up and down streets, grafitti, dirty, congested. etc, etc. So they make movies there. Have a few popular restaurants and clubs and a bigger skyline. You can't compare apples to oranges. I want to get out of So Cal ASAP. I have the Sacramento area (Nevada City!!) and Boise, Idaho on a short list of cities to move to. I'm a mountain biker/cyclist and you guys up there have awesome places to ride. Also, I would love to paddle board on your river. That would be soooo *itchin'.

 

[UKRAINE]

I like the Mayberry feel of Sactown as well. But that is really not the point. You can have a small city feel and still have reasons to leave your home. Most of the cities in the 1-3 million range accmplish it. We do not. Given that people are using fairy tale town and the train museum as examples of what sactown offers kind of makes my point for me.

I have lived many places and have visted many more. This is a great place to live, make no mistake about it. However, it mostly has to do with geographic location, weather and trees. It has little to do with the city itself that has built and maintained very little for its citizens and visitors. Given this, the loss of the Kings and then Arco is a much bigger deal that if Pittsburg lost the Pirates or if Indy lost the Pacers etc.

Are we talking about what we have or what we have built so far? You don’t build things if you have it. Many communities build amusement parks because they have freaking nothing to do AT ALL .. absolutely nothing around. No park like that = you go to mall or stay at home. Indianapolis is an example of a fun place?? Are you kidding me? It is a dead city even with all their teams and arenas. We have way more absolutely different options to have fun and leave our houses 365 days/year. They don’t have SF near them, they do not have several amazing national parks, they have no Tahoe or Monterey, or Santa Cruz nearby, no Napa, no different kind of forests. Yes, we did not build SF or Tahoe because we do not have to. We do not have to build the Mall of America with a winter garden either because we already have gardens and what we have is 100X more special and beautiful. Winters in Minnesota are so bad that you just do not want to leave your house and place like that mall is almost the only real option for you. It is so freaking cold and there is nothing around that you can enjoy. They had to build that kinda mall. It was not a matter of fun for them or to have another option. Do I want us to have our own Mall of America? Yes, I do .. of course. But I know that it will never happen because there is no market for this super expensive project unless the G*d moves Sacramento to North Dakota.

If you say that we need renovations, new modern arena to keep the Kings and one more highway, I am with you 100%. There is no city in America that is problem free and we definitely need to work harder to improve a lot of stuff. But if you say that we need something to build to have a reason to leave our houses, it is silly. Sacramento is not just Sacramento and nothing around a-la Saint Louis or Indy. We are a part of a big and compact urban center (Northern California) that offers a lof of amazing outdoor adventures because of our geography and other recreational and entertainment activities. For example, there is no sane businessman in the world would build a big theme roller coaster park in Sacramento because the one we have in Vallejo is more than enough for our market. It is our course or our luck; it depends on how people look at it. I know one thing - I am 1-2-3 hours away from ...... everything. Can people from dark holes a-la Indy or Kansas say that or even from Houston? I do not think so.

 

[Bricklayer]

The stance you take is the one KJ is not taking. And there's a good reason. KJ says he will not allow Sac to be leveraged. What he means is, if he does something drastic to keep the Kings here, the Maloofs might just use that as a bargaining tool for Anaheim to sweeten their deal. Like, "Hey Anaheim, you're offer is great and all, but we have a good deal in Sac. What more can you do to convince us?" Sacramento is not going to play into the Maloof's hands here to basically benefit another community.

The extra time is great and all, but the intent for why the extra time is there is not positive. More time is good. I agree. But the Maloofs not contacting KJ before requesting more time means one thing. And KJ addressed it in his press conference: The Maloofs intend on leaving. A deal may not be struck, and the Maloofs may not be able to leave, but they want to.

I'm sure you've dated enough Brick to know that once a girl is looking at another guy like this, it's over, regardless of what you do. You could be Superman, save her life from a dragon, and it still wouldn't be enough. The Maloofs want to go and they're trying to leverage Sacramento to get Anaheim to make their deal even better. KJ isn't going to allow that. If he did, Anaheim's sweetened deal might be enough to convince the Maloofs to go. Without that sweetened deal, the Kings just might end up staying. Maybe.

There is nothing "drastic" that Sacramento can do that is going to hurt it if the Maloofs leave. The hurt is the Maloofs leaving. Being leveraged is irrelevant. It does not matter to Sac if the other comunity pays x or pays y -- they've still got its team. And being leveraged is a load of hooey anyway, as what you might be leveraged into is doing something that you should have done years ago and that your girl has been asking you to do since the Clinton Administration. There is no evidence whatsoever that the Maloofs have ever needed Sacramento to come up with some ridiculously sweetheart plan. What thye have needede, adn still need, is Sacramento to come up with A plan. A single stupid little plan that would actually work, to build an arena. The city's rampant incompetence as a boyfriend is the problem here. Been impotent for years, doesn't know how to fix stuf around the house, and has no plan for the future. If being "leveraged" into doing the things that every other boy (including the one the team is leaving you for) does and understands implicitly is this great cost, then cry me a river.

And there is no time at all to play games. Your girl is all but gone. And you know what? She should be. You used to be a great favorite. But years of inaction of alienated her, her friends, her parents, everyone. Get cute now and you are really and truly finished. There is no angle to play here except put your best foot forward and offer to finally do what has to be done. And if the girl takes that offer and runs off to the new guy and uses it to get some extra parking concessions, what do you care? You are no worse off at that point than you are now.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

Yep, can pretty much do all of sacramento in 1 day maybe even Sutters mill in the foothills too.

tis true..

it was museum day not too long ago and i've been to majority of the museums in sac. what else is there to do? i had to go to the bay area for night clubs 10 yrs ago. clubs in sac shut down at 2am.. are there any diners that open late for people to grab a bite after a night of partying besides dennys & ihop? both of those are worse than public school lunch food. excuse me if i seem harsh with the lame standards in sac.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

Actually, if you haven't been since the new wing opened, its well worth a visit and a very nice place. It would definitely take a lot longer than two minutes. I spent a good 8 hours just going through the new wing.

Right now there''s a rather spectacular special exhibit there.

But Sacramento really doesn not have much that make it really stand out. And there's a reason NBA players hate coming here as the visiting team. The usual comment is no nightlife. Its pretty embarrassing when your own players look a little blank when asked what they like about Sacramento (ala Cousins recently).

I love Sacramento as I consider it my home town. There are nice things about it, but its not a very exciting town especially if you're young. Before the Kings came, I used to have to explain where Sacramento is when I traveled around the country. Some folks knew it was the capital, but that's a "so what." I know that Pierre is the capital of South Dakota. That doesn't mean I can tell you any other reason to visit there or live there, for that matter.

i'll have to check it out again sometime. its been a few years.

my wife is from los angeles and when she came up here.. it bored her to death because there is literally nothing to do. your right about it not being exciting when your young. i had to burn alot of gas to go have fun bc the things to do out here are extremely lame. my wife has adjusted because we have a kid now. she says this city is great for raising a family. she would not want to raise our child down in los angeles. it's rough down there.

 

[pshn80]

I am not a local boy. I grew up in Brooklyn, Köln and Hamburg, lived in Cincinnati and Houston, tried to live in Portland and Philly and about 6 years ago I moved to Sacramento. I have seen and experienced a lot of things in different places in America. Yes, Sacramento is no Paris but if you think it is pathetic I have a simple question - have you been to other places? Sacramento has minuses but every city has them. We have a very good winter-free weather without annoying humidity, tornadoes, hurricanes. PT is actually decent by American standards. We have a very interesting racial and ethnic background and very healthy relationship between us. We are a short driving almost traffic free distance away from so many things. I do not want to have Sonoma or Lake Tahoe in my backyard, I want to be close to them. Every weekend I have a nice choice - I can go to Napa, Russian or American rivers, Tahoe, SF, SJ, coastal towns, national parks etc. I love SF but I love visiting SF. I do not want to live there 24/7 in a small old overpriced apartment or townhouse on a skinny noisy street. I can enjoy everything SF can offer when I have some free time but I want to go back to my big house with a big backyard where I can enjoy my family life. If I do not want to go outside of the town, I can spend a nice time in Old Sac, Midtown, Discovery park etc. and have a lunch, play softball or volleyball with my friends and family. We do not have many museums? Ohh, sorry, like we go to them every week and they make our life better and interesting. We still have some and California Rail Road museum is actually very cool and outsiders love it. We do not have amusement and water parks a-la Disneyland but we still have ok ones and if you want something super-puper special you can go to Orlando or Vegas. That's the reason these cities exists on Earth. The thing is that we have options - in the city and around the city and that's what you want - to have options. We have more options and choices than most people in this country.

Yes, our arena situation is very, very sad and I am very angry about it and it is not only the arena situation actually. There are many things make me sad today in Sacramento and America progress- and infrastructure-wise. But this Sacramento nothing-to-do-at-all and redneck-stupid-town bashing is becoming ridiculous.
I have a simple formula for you, my dear friends. If you have nothing to do in Sacramento on a regular day, it means that you probably have no real job. If you have nothing to do on weekends in/and around Sacramento, it means that you won't find that probably anywhere and it is not Sacramento, it is you.

I was born here and have lived here always, that's 80 years in Sacramento. I agree with your analysis completely. I have no interest in finding a better place to live. Love SF, all the bay area, Monterey pennisula, visit them but don't want to live there and can't afford to live close. The Kings brightened my 55th year and they are big to me, mainly because it's basketball and it's here.

Sacramento can and will support a new arena. Share in paying for it and helping to keep it full of Kings fans. It just has taken time and will take a little more. If the Kings can't wait a little longer, they won't. I bet they do. This is a great town for an NBA team and we have it. The spirit of Leukenbill et al lives on and we'll be quite OK no matter how it shakes out. Stay Kings!!!!! Go Kings!!!!!!

 

[pdxKingsFan]

If the Maloofs don't get what they want from Anaheim they will get it and more from Louisville or KC. Sacramento has no leverage at this point. You know what protecting the taxpayers means at this point? Not letting a thousand + MSE jobs walk, not watching local businesses crumble due to loss of traffic and tourism. Not losing an international identity.

 

[Siranthony]

My two cents

Yes one of the best things to say about Sacramento is that it is within driving distance to the bay area and Reno. The other good thing is to say it is not that close to the bay area and reno. Which is why a lot of people like living here.

That being said I think the Sacramento area really needs the Kings here. If you want to atract buisiness here you need something to offer. The Kings are a nice added atraction. I don't see how losing the Kings help the area in any way.

Unfortunatly a lot of people don't see it that way. Especially if they are not Kings fans.

Great we can go back to using the Memorial auditorium for shows and concerts.

On the other hand I don't think it's fair to charge $150 or more for a ticket on the lower level for a bad product. Times are tough here. It may take another year or two but this area will bounce back. I don't know what we can do to keep the team here until then. but it will be a bad thing for the Kings to go.

 

[Glenn]

KJ is beginning to sound like his primary purpose is to get re-elected. He says the right things to make Kings fans happy but isn't willing to do what it takes to build an arena.

Yes, it's about Sacramento and I think that means different things to different people. I see income flying south, I see businesses shying away from a second rate city, I see the ranking of this city getting even lower. On a national and international level, the Kings ARE Sacramento.

I'm not quite sure what the Maloofs need to be convinced of. I think they already know enough about this city from their experience over the last decade. In fact, their present behavior makes it loud and clear that they understand this city.

I see retired people leaving. Today pushed me over the edge.

Man, oh, man, don't let the Kings push you around. "He's (KJ) just not going to let us get further embarrassed by allowing our city to get played when they were out the door anyways." People thought they were going to take the team to Las Vegas the first year they were here. It's never ending. Now you can say, "see, I knew it all along. It may have taken 11 years, but they got what they wanted." But wait, they aren't going to Las Vegas. Hmm, maybe something changed from the origional suspicion to the modern version of the suspicion. What was it? Oh, it was that pesky arena deal. But still, we knew they were trying to steal the Kings from Sacramento all along, didn't we?

I'm not worried about getting embarrassed. THAT is a Sacramento attitude but not mine. Don't let those damn sophisticated outsiders take advantage of us. I think the nail was hammered into the coffin today. Confrontation and macho posturing solves nothing although I suspect I am in the minority with that attitude given the way this country is going.

To me, Sacramento is nothing without the Kings but I am one of those damn outsiders, too.

 

[twosomeca]

It's kind of sad seeing some of you guys beating up on your hometown. To be sure, there is good and bad everywhere. I am not from your area, but what I enjoy doing in your area when I am there is playing golf, boating, and hitting some of the good mexican restaurants and hanging out with the in-laws at some local parties. It could be worse, it could be better.

I don't know why anyone here would go thinking that a place like Portland is much better and has it's doggy doo together. Portland has no timber industry because the nutjobs have killed it off. There is no tourism industry as no one wants to slosh around in the rain for 9 months out of the year. The only reason the Blazers are still there is because the arena is a privately funded arena and the owner is very wealthy. I have lived all over the country and the world. I really don't like Portland. If you can stand the weather and the people, you'll probably love it. Just sayin'. http://bcove.me/wa781wdk

Take pride in your area. It's up to you guys to make it a better place.

Edit: I am curious how someone could be from Sacramento and then refer to Portland as "we". That seems very odd to me. You are from where you are from, even if you live in a different place now. I certainly have this very thing going on.

 

[whozit]

Edit: I am curious how someone could be from Sacramento and then refer to Portland as "we". That seems very odd to me. You are from where you are from, even if you live in a different place now. I certainly have this very thing going on.

Semantics? Sacramento County is my birthplace, but Kentucky is my home. I will include myself in the category of "Kings fan," but not in the category of "Californian" or such.

 

[Glenn]

Semantics? Sacramento County is my birthplace, but Kentucky is my home. I will include myself in the category of "Kings fan," but not in the category of "Californian" or such.

Hey, I was born in Louisville and know how to pronounce it.

 

[ArcoKings]

I don't know why anyone here would go thinking that a place like Portland is much better and has it's doggy doo together. Portland has no timber industry because the nutjobs have killed it off. There is no tourism industry as no one wants to slosh around in the rain for 9 months out of the year. The only reason the Blazers are still there is because the arena is a privately funded arena and the owner is very wealthy. I have lived all over the country and the world. I really don't like Portland. If you can stand the weather and the people, you'll probably love it. Just sayin'. [B]http://bcove.me/wa781wdk[/B]

Portlandia. LMAO. Funny video. The show?? I gave it a chance and couldn't undertand it.

 

[pshn80]

To me, Sacramento is nothing without the Kings but I am one of those damn outsiders, too.

Carmichael, you are not an outsider. The Kings, the community needs you as well as all Sacramento County and those that surround us. The Metro area of Sacramento needs the Kings. The arena can only be in one place. You will pay just as much as me, a Sacramento City and County citizen. Be optimistic, be positive, keep them here.

 

[bajaden]

It's kind of sad seeing some of you guys beating up on your hometown. To be sure, there is good and bad everywhere. I am not from your area, but what I enjoy doing in your area when I am there is playing golf, boating, and hitting some of the good mexican restaurants and hanging out with the in-laws at some local parties. It could be worse, it could be better.

I don't know why anyone here would go thinking that a place like Portland is much better and has it's doggy doo together. Portland has no timber industry because the nutjobs have killed it off. There is no tourism industry as no one wants to slosh around in the rain for 9 months out of the year. The only reason the Blazers are still there is because the arena is a privately funded arena and the owner is very wealthy. I have lived all over the country and the world. I really don't like Portland. If you can stand the weather and the people, you'll probably love it. Just sayin'. http://bcove.me/wa781wdk

Take pride in your area. It's up to you guys to make it a better place.

Edit: I am curious how someone could be from Sacramento and then refer to Portland as "we". That seems very odd to me. You are from where you are from, even if you live in a different place now. I certainly have this very thing going on.

Actually I think Portland is a beautiful city, and if you go downtown on a friday or saturday night, its full of people. Yes they're lucky enough to have a billionaire owner, but he stuck the arena right in the downtown area. Yes, the weather sucks at times, but the city planners found a way to turn the downtown area into a vibrant well used area. For the most part all you can look forward to seeing in sacramento's downtown area is a beggar or a mugger. Good job there! An arena downtown would be a tremendous boost for the downtown area.

The reason downtown sacramento hasn't changed over the years is because most of the people on the city council have relatives that came over on the Mayflower. I have no doubt that some of them thought an indian uprising was still a possiblilty. I lived in sacramento for 40 years, and the most dramatic change I saw except for a few new freeways, was Lumberjack being exchanged for Home Depot. Except for those huge changes, the only other difference maker is the Kings. And as usual, the city had nothing to do with that. That was due to privite parties that had a different vision for the city. A vision I might add, that the city didn't have at the time, and I'm not sure it does now.

As for the attitude on this fourm. Well, the last time I looked it was called the Kingsfan.com fourm. With emphasis on the word Kings. It doesn't say cityofsacramentofans.com. Or Kevinjohnsonfans.com. So it should surprise no one that our interest is in keeping the Kings in sacramento, and not restoring the pride of Kevin Johnson, or preparing a brochure on the highlights of sacramento for tourists.

This isn't about whether I like Kevin Johnson, or I like Sacramento. I do and I do. I'll say it again. This isn't about them, its about keeping the team in sacramento. And I'll be honest. I'll swallow my pride if I have to. I'll come hat in hand, and I'll do whatever I can to get the Maloofs to stay. Because 5 years from now, all anyone will remember when they're at a playoff game down near the riverfront screaming their lungs out, is what a great time they're having, and what a wonderful town sacramento is. You want to get re-elected Mayor Johnson? Then get this done! Hell, I might even donate money for a statue of you downtown.. Too many pigeons and not enough statues...

 

[Glenn]

What I meant is I am a Minnesotan. If someone asks me where I came from, I say Minnesota. Mostly it was the Twin Cities. I was born in Louisville. This is just my most recent stop and probably won't be my last if the Kings leave. I've been planning to leave the area semi-seriously for a long time. That's what I meant. I very much feel like I don't fit in here. I just don't agree with the mind set of the people in the area. I understand it but don't agree. At times I feel like I'm on another planet.






'Course, looking at my avatar, I suspect people may think the same of me.

 

[Glenn]

Actually I think Portland is a beautiful city, and if you go downtown on a friday or saturday night, its full of people. Yes they're lucky enough to have a billionaire owner, but he stuck the arena right in the downtown area. Yes, the weather sucks at times, but the city planners found a way to turn the downtown area into a vibrant well used area. For the most part all you can look forward to seeing in sacramento's downtown area is a beggar or a mugger. Good job there! An arena downtown would be a tremendous boost for the downtown area.

The reason downtown sacramento hasn't changed over the years is because most of the people on the city council have relatives that came over on the Mayflower. I have no doubt that some of them thought an indian uprising was still a possiblilty. I lived in sacramento for 40 years, and the most dramatic change I saw except for a few new freeways, was Lumberjack being exchanged for Home Depot. Except for those huge changes, the only other difference maker is the Kings. And as usual, the city had nothing to do with that. That was due to privite parties that had a different vision for the city. A vision I might add, that the city didn't have at the time, and I'm not sure it does now.

As for the attitude on this fourm. Well, the last time I looked it was called the Kingsfan.com fourm. With emphasis on the word Kings. It doesn't say cityofsacramentofans.com. Or Kevinjohnsonfans.com. So it should surprise no one that our interest is in keeping the Kings in sacramento, and not restoring the pride of Kevin Johnson, or preparing a brochure on the highlights of sacramento for tourists.

This isn't about whether I like Kevin Johnson, or I like Sacramento. I do and I do. I'll say it again. This isn't about them, its about keeping the team in sacramento. And I'll be honest. I'll swallow my pride if I have to. I'll come hat in hand, and I'll do whatever I can to get the Maloofs to stay. Because 5 years from now, all anyone will remember when they're at a playoff game down near the riverfront screaming their lungs out, is what a great time they're having, and what a wonderful town sacramento is. You want to get re-elected Mayor Johnson? Then get this done! Hell, I might even donate money for a statue of you downtown.. Too many pigeons and not enough statues...

This gentleman speaks for me on 99% of the issues. I'm not going to follow every note he writes with a "Right on!" or "Bingo" but this is my thought process in another body. I may use different words but .... good on ya, mate.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Portlandia. LMAO. Funny video. The show?? I gave it a chance and couldn't undertand it.

Funny for the first episode and a half. Got dumb quick, has maybe one good idea per show. If they had stuck to hipster bashing it would have been perfect.

The Dream of the 90s was brilliant.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

It's kind of sad seeing some of you guys beating up on your hometown. To be sure, there is good and bad everywhere. I am not from your area, but what I enjoy doing in your area when I am there is playing golf, boating, and hitting some of the good mexican restaurants and hanging out with the in-laws at some local parties. It could be worse, it could be better.

I don't know why anyone here would go thinking that a place like Portland is much better and has it's doggy doo together. Portland has no timber industry because the nutjobs have killed it off. There is no tourism industry as no one wants to slosh around in the rain for 9 months out of the year. The only reason the Blazers are still there is because the arena is a privately funded arena and the owner is very wealthy. I have lived all over the country and the world. I really don't like Portland. If you can stand the weather and the people, you'll probably love it. Just sayin'. http://bcove.me/wa781wdk

Take pride in your area. It's up to you guys to make it a better place.

Edit: I am curious how someone could be from Sacramento and then refer to Portland as "we". That seems very odd to me. You are from where you are from, even if you live in a different place now. I certainly have this very thing going on.

This rant seems directed at me. I have lived in multiple towns, there are 3 that stuck with me. Sac where I was born and raised, Boston where I went to school and Portland where I have settled down and elected to raise my family. I think having a child here entitles me to being part of the community.

As I said, part of the reason I chose to come to Portland was because much of it reminded me of where I grew up in Sacramento, but I could also afford a home here and allow my wife to stay home and raise our son. I'm sorry you don't like it. I have a love for both cities and am concerned about Sacramento's future. The only part of Sacramento I have bashed are the birdbrains that run it. I happen to think that a vibrant downtown is a key to an enjoyable city and civic pride. It is also what I loved about Boston. So pardon me for wanting that for my hometown too.

 

[kupman]

This gentleman speaks for me on 99% of the issues. I'm not going to follow every note he writes with a "Right on!" or "Bingo" but this is my thought process in another body. I may use different words but .... good on ya, mate.

I am right there with the two of you, so do not feel alone. I am also a transplant. I have been here for about 11 years and am shocked at how little has been accomplished in this city. I too have spent significant time in the twin cities along with other cities in mid-America that are approximately the same size as Sactown and the differences are pretty dramatic.

Yes, Sacramento is a very nice city in which to live and it has a great location between the mountains and the City and the Sea. However, the city itself is probably one of the most stagnant cities of its size in the nation. In fact, it is not even stagnant at this point. It is moving backwards at a steady rate.

 

[Glenn]

Yes, Sacramento is a very nice city in which to live and it has a great location between the mountains and the City and the Sea. However, the city itself is probably one of the most stagnant cities of its size in the nation. In fact, it is not even stagnant at this point. It is moving backwards at a steady rate.

In time??????

 

[twosomeca]

This rant seems directed at me. I have lived in multiple towns, there are 3 that stuck with me. Sac where I was born and raised, Boston where I went to school and Portland where I have settled down and elected to raise my family. I think having a child here entitles me to being part of the community.

As I said, part of the reason I chose to come to Portland was because much of it reminded me of where I grew up in Sacramento, but I could also afford a home here and allow my wife to stay home and raise our son. I'm sorry you don't like it. I have a love for both cities and am concerned about Sacramento's future. The only part of Sacramento I have bashed are the birdbrains that run it. I happen to think that a vibrant downtown is a key to an enjoyable city and civic pride. It is also what I loved about Boston. So pardon me for wanting that for my hometown too.

I appreciate the civil response. I will say this. Portland and the PNW are not for everyone. I am speaking of myself and I am not a fan of either Seattle or Portland. Here's the good, though, when it comes to Portland: AWESOME beer, great scenery, and nice summers when the marine layer doesn't hang in all day or when the humidity doesn't pick up too much. The people are a bit much to deal with, though. Very provincial and proud to "Keep Portland Weird". I could cite to numerous examples, but I see no point in it.

The main point I was trying to convey was to be proud of where you are from. I am. Believe it or not, I like your area. I like the part of Orange County that I am in. I like parts of the low desert. There is good and bad everywhere. Sac has its good. I have seen it. As an outsider, I try to find the good everywhere I go. The problem I have had in the PNW is the bad hitting me upside the face, unexpectedly.

Let me add that I understand the negativity and questioning the city. You are always going to have NIMBYs where you go. Being out here on the west coast, we get more NIMBYs than anyone else in the country save for those people on the East Coast above the Carolinas. Those people can give us a run for our money. So the NIMBYs make us feel like the city's development has been retarded. Well, this is going on up and down the west coast. You may have noticed this little problem we have had in So.Cal. with the NFL and an inability to get it back here. No one will build a publicly funded stadium and the NIMBYs in Pasadena don't want the NFL in their hood - too many event dates for their desires. Seattle gave the NBA the middle finger over the arena issue. Paul Allen even hinted at the Blazers moving a few years ago when he had lost control of the Arena and wanted concessions from the city, to which the city immediately balked.

It is my opinion that the days of publicly-funded arenas out here on our coast are over. There has to be another approach to the whole thing. Look at the Padres and the Chargers. The Padres got their stadium; the Chargers didn't. Alex Spanos threatened to move the Bolts up to Carson or somewhere else in L.A. County. Didn't happen. He isn't getting a stadium in L.A. and he has no good options right now other than staying in SD.

I don't know how Sac is supposed to resolve this arena issue if the Maloofs and the NBA are going to demand public funds. I doubt it gets done if they stick with that idea.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

The main point I was trying to convey was to be proud of where you are from. I am.

I am. I lived in 6 or 7 cities and consider myself from 3 because they shaped very different stages of my life. I spent most of my 20s in SoCal but don't consider that area central to my being. It is what sent me up North though! I am a weirdo so I fit right in in Portland, and if I get 365 days of sun I take it for granted and stay inside all the time because it will be there tomorrow. When I have 4 seasons I truly enjoy each and every one. Winter sucks the most though.

 

[twosomeca]

I am. I lived in 6 or 7 cities and consider myself from 3 because they shaped very different stages of my life. I spent most of my 20s in SoCal but don't consider that area central to my being. It is what sent me up North though! I am a weirdo so I fit right in in Portland, and if I get 365 days of sun I take it for granted and stay inside all the time because it will be there tomorrow. When I have 4 seasons I truly enjoy each and every one. Winter sucks the most though.

I wasn't shooting at you with the be proud statement. With the PDX stuff, partially so. I have a malfunction with Portland and Seattle. I just don't fit in. I guess I am like the Minny guy who says he doesn't feel as though he fits in, in Sac. BTW, I am not originally from the west coast. I have lived and worked in all major areas of the west coast. All of them. I don't want some idiot out there outlawing plastic bags statewide, taxing me on a paper bag, or otherwise telling me what bag I am supposed to use to carry my groceries in. And you know that this is what you guys in PDX are trying to foist on your entire state. Justify it all you want. I choose not to live in a way that would have government and their stringent supporters telling me how to live my life. This is the biggest problem with Portland and Seattle. I am convinced that these people are so damned political because the weather sucks most of the time such that they have nothing else to do.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I don't like to get in to politics here, but I will say that Portland's suit me just fine for the most part. I don't have a dog in the plastic bag fight one way or the other but I happen to think that Portland is just leading the way here (and I was under the impression it was just a city thing not all of Oregon). Eventually they will be banned everywhere as I just don't think they are sustainable beyond the next 10-15 years. For the time being I stock up on them because they are extremely useful for picking up dog poop.

 

[whozit]

I don't like to get in to politics here, but I will say that Portland's suit me just fine for the most part. I don't have a dog in the plastic bag fight one way or the other but I happen to think that Portland is just leading the way here (and I was under the impression it was just a city thing not all of Oregon). Eventually they will be banned everywhere as I just don't think they are sustainable beyond the next 10-15 years. For the time being I stock up on them because they are extremely useful for picking up dog poop.

I guess I am a horrible person because I want my milk in a bag. They are great cat litter bags.

 

[twosomeca]

I don't like to get in to politics here, but I will say that Portland's suit me just fine for the most part. I don't have a dog in the plastic bag fight one way or the other but I happen to think that Portland is just leading the way here (and I was under the impression it was just a city thing not all of Oregon). Eventually they will be banned everywhere as I just don't think they are sustainable beyond the next 10-15 years. For the time being I stock up on them because they are extremely useful for picking up dog poop.

They won't be banned everywhere unless the fed government steps in. Also not trying to get political here, but how can a small, inconsequential state think that it can lead anybody anywhere. You have to have a prescription to get sudafed in Oregon. You all tried to foist that on the rest of the country as well. That didn't go over well. Where I am originally from, we don't have a meth problem. The fact that you do should not become my problem.

Anyway, enough of that. I could list many, many things that you guys do up there that drives me nuts, but what's the point of that? If you think it is ok to tell others how they should live their lives, that's on you. You will have to accept the angry reactions to such.

 

[Section 101]

I don't like to get in to politics here, but I will say that Portland's suit me just fine for the most part. I don't have a dog in the plastic bag fight one way or the other but I happen to think that Portland is just leading the way here (and I was under the impression it was just a city thing not all of Oregon). Eventually they will be banned everywhere as I just don't think they are sustainable beyond the next 10-15 years. For the time being I stock up on them because they are extremely useful for picking up dog poop.

What's funny is a grocery retailer here had to recall their "reuseable" bags for high lead content. Cali dems have are trying to ban them here.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

What's funny is a grocery retailer here had to recall their "reuseable" bags for high lead content. Cali dems have are trying to ban them here.

Which is why I think it will be quite a few years before it happens but eventually it will, probably not for 15 years or so but it will happen. Odds are something new and better will come along first though.