Category Archives: Environment

Politics turns Pretty

Culture, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Politics, ,

The 2020 elections are now a thing of the past. But the thousands of political yard signs that dotted Sacramento County lawns are getting a new life.

As most of the signs are not made from recyclable material, a coalition of local environmental and cultural activists is collecting and distributing them to Sacramento area artists who will turn them into art.

“Some artists want to take it and turn it into planters. Another one wants to turn it into a new type of canvas,” said Shira Lane, of The Atrium 916, “Others want to create kind messaging to make America kind again and bring us together again.”

The goal of the initiative according to Lane is to ensure that the signs do not wind up in landfills. Crafters, hobbyists, art teachers, students, and others have all reached out to get some signs.

New Dollar General in West Sacramento

New Dollar General in West Sacramento

Business news, Community, Economy, Environment, Finance, Infrastructure, , ,

A 200,000 square feet Dollar General cold storage facility will open in West Sacramento.

The Greater Sacramento Economic Council announced the location of the facility on Channel Drive. The council also indicated that the new venue will generate 50 full-time jobs, $27 million in regional economic activity over three years, and revitalize the pandemic-hit economy over the next three years.  Specifically in West Sacramento, some $4 million are expected to come in as a result of the new facility each year.

“Dollar General’s supply chain network plays a critical role in ensuring the products customers need and want are delivered to our nearly 17,000 stores in a timely and consistent manner. The addition of these facilities continues to drive efficiency and service through our exceptional supply chain network.”

Mike Kindy, Dollar General’s executive vice president of global supply chain
New Dollar General in West Sacramento
The new West Sacramento Dollar General cold storage facility will stimulate the economy and preserve food supplies.

Sacramento Helps Eateries Re-Open

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Sacramento has launched a new program called Farm to Fork Al Fresco to facilitate the reopening of restaurants for dining in.

The program allows restaurants to apply for a city permit to extend their dine-in service to public sidewalks, streets, and parking areas. This will enable restaurants to adhere to social distancing regulations and reach nearly 100% serving capacity.

Sacramento is showing ingenuity and flexibility to reopen restaurants.

Paragary’s in midtown Sacramento, for example, was one of the first eateries to apply and receive a permit. The city erected barriers on the sidewalk outside the shop and the owners have already set up tables and chairs.

This type of flexibility and accommodations are helping Sacramento’s restaurant scene get back to business.

Importance of Garden Design and Landscaping

Environment,

Many Sacramento homeowners find a lot of benefit of having a landscape garden artist design their outdoor areas for them.  While the region boasts a vast array of large public lakes, ponds and parks, it is particularly enjoyable to come home and sit by one’s very own koi or water garden pond.

Landscape gardener Raphael Steinberg has been creating and maintaining a wide array of gardens for over two decades. He began his firm — Raphael Steinberg Landscaping — in 2000 in Rishon LeTzion, Israel with a 500 NIS loan from his family.  Since then he has built up the company and today is well-known in the community among the residential neighbors as well as local municipalities and some offices.

Over the years Steinberg has developed a reputation for the design quality of his garden pathways and ponds.  He is often asked to counsel his clients on shrubbery and wildlife as well but finds his more natural inclination is toward the water aspects. “I always loved water and the outdoors, so when I started in the gardening business, I found that I was more drawn to installing pond. Thankfully both my private clients and public corporations were drawn to the idea too. It seems that there is something very calming about the sound of running water and I have, over time, managed to really beautify each of the ponds I landscape, resulting in the creation of a very comfortable and natural environment.”

During the country’s lockdown where people are being forced to stay home, Steinberg has found that he has been getting many more calls from new clients as well as existing ones to do more work.  Clients that only ever wanted basic maintenance are now requesting his creative eye and other people who have just maybe had planter boxes on their balconies are looking into making a green outdoor area to eliminate some of the claustrophobia the lockdown has generated.

Fashion Forward Sacramento

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New York’s Fashion Week is winding down and Sacramento’s style scene is upping its game. The city is filled with clothing spots offering unique fashion finds. Here is a list of just a few local businesses worth checking out.

Sacramento’s trendy fashion businesses have a lot to offer

1st Go 2nd (hand)

The Article Consignment Boutique in East Sacramento is a vintage and consignment store that is a must for any shopping fan. Buying second-hand is not only fun, but it reduces the environmental impact of clothing, saves a lot of money, and creates a style that is unique and authentic.

Know Your Heart

Heart Clothing Boutique is a favored women’s clothing spot, offering a practical and whimsical wardrobe for any occasion. Comfort and style come together seamlessly in this cozy store where the staff is eager to help customers find just the right look.

Go Krazy

Krazy Mary’s, also in East Sacramento, offers up-scale fashion that is forward-thinking and user-friendly. It’s sister store, Sugar Shack Boutique, networks with local artists and designers to curate an affordably unique collection of clothing.

Find an Outlet

Folsom Premium Outlets has more than 80 different outlet stores. With something for everyone, this is the perfect place to go for shoppers only looking to park once. There are also a few cafes and shake shops on the campus perfect for an energy boost during shopping sprees.

Local Environmental Beauty

Environment

There are so many beautiful places to enjoy in Sacramento. It is perhaps therefore not surprising that tourism has seen such a boost in recent years.  When you look at all the natural beauty in the area and all the things to do – especially in the summer – and add that to the fact that the region is not nearly as crowded as other popular tourist destinations, Sacramento deserves its boost in revenue.

Indeed, according to Principal Planner with the City of Sacramento, Desmond Parrington, the Golden 1 Center has been a huge draw, last year attracting around an additional 1.6 million visitors.

But what about the nature?  What about the environment?  There are so many beautiful overlooked areas in Sacramento not getting the attention they deserve.

“It’s really weird,” said Mozes Victor Konig, a Tel Aviv, Israel based photographer. “On my last visit to California I actually got sidetracked by the Sacramento River NWR due to its accessibility, beauty and relaxation.  I can’t understand why more people aren’t taking advantage of it.”

This sentiment was echoed by local resident Michelle Washington.  “I’ve lived here my whole life,” the great-grandmother of 5 said.  “I dated my husband on these banks; brought my kids here, grandkids and now my great grandchildren.  There’s simply nothing more precious in its natural beauty.”

Washington says that her personal favorite are the migrant songbirds and mammals that appear “no matter what season you are there. It’s like they are your friends, accompanying you through dark and light.”

For Konig it was the open space:

“Can you imagine?  Over 5,000 open acres!  Go fishing, hunting, picnicking and more.  And the American River Bike Trail is just a dream.  I am not such a big cyclist but when I was there I couldn’t resist.  Spanning 32 miles from Old Sacramento’s Discovery Park and Folsom Lake, you then meet the Sacramento Northern Bikeway north of Del Paso Boulevard. It’s fantastic.”

Next time you take a vacation to California and you just want to get away from the over-commercialization of the region, stop and smell the coffee. The shaded trail, fitted with restrooms and fountains also offers swimming areas and parks as you stroll through Sacramento at its best.

Fur Trapping in California: Is it Legal?

Business news, Environment

Assemblywoman Laurena Gonzalez submitted a bill that would prohibit the state from issuing fur trapping licenses.

Last year, the state of California issue 133 fur trapping licenses, which generated $15,000 in revenue for the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

However, Gonzalez states that the cost of managing the trapping program is far higher than this amount and is therefore effectively subsidized by taxpayer’s dollars.

Although California has a long history of fur trapping—the California Fur Rush actually pre-dated the Gold Rush– the state is now considering a bill that will ban the sale of fur state-wide. Many policy-makers feel that the commercialization of animal fur is a cruel practice that should be banned.

Sacramento: Investing in its Environmental Future

Environment

Sacramento has become an integral part of positive environmental endeavors within California.  According to a recent Forbes article:

“While businesses have a crucial role to play, leadership in the halls of our state government remains essential. When Sacramento sets firm targets for emissions, clean energy, and efficiency standards, it gives businesses the market certainty they need to invest confidently in climate solutions.”

An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report has determined that there is only one way to eliminate the worst impacts of climate change.  That is to substantially decrease greenhouse gas emissions so that global warming is held at 1.5° C.

As such, climate leadership in California is more crucial than ever which was why a bill was recently passed there (nowhere else has this been done throughout the nation) that commits the region to “emissions-free electricity by 2045.”  Other states will be observing the progress of this.

Sacramento’s Environmental Efforts

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Significant environmentally-enhancing efforts have been made in Sacramento recently.  Trends in this are continuing with the proposed regulations of setting up a Conditional Exclusion for Chemically Treated Metal Shredder Residue.  It is hoped that additional rules will be put in place to put conditions in place to improve protection of environment health and safety.

An analysis was formulated by California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) on how human health is impacted by this, as well as metal shredding facilities and other matters pursuant to the environment.

An Environmental Justice Bureau has recently been set up in an attempt to enhance living environments for people and their families in Sacramento. California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra is seeking to ensure environmental concerns are taken seriously and:

“compel businesses and government agencies to clean contaminated drinking water, reduce exposure to lead and other toxins and prevent illegal waste discharges in communities burdened disproportionately by pollution.”

Becerra pointed out:

“The harsh reality is that some communities in California — particularly low-income communities and communities of color — continue to bear the brunt of pollution from industrial development, poor land-use decisions, transportation, and trade corridors. Meeting the needs of these communities requires our focused attention.”

Sacramento’s Kindness to the Environment

Environment, ,

Plans have been approved to provide a short stretch of road to cyclists next summer.  A pedestrian trail linking the Sacramento River Trail to Diestehorst Bridge and downtown would give far greater access to the cyclists of the area as well as those who enjoy walking.  And it would be good for the environment.

This has been very well received by members of the Shasta Wheelmen cycling group and would only result in a very slight inconvenience.  Some motorists are even supportive of the project since, according to Assistant Public Works Director Chuck Aukland the estimated additional time it would take from Quartz Hill and Benton to Eureka Way and Market Street would be “37 seconds.”

So it really does seem like a win-win.