If you've been wondering how to get to China or Switzerland from downtown Sacramento and relied upon a new sign outside City Hall, good luck.
The city installed a directional sign to each of its nine sister cities this week. To this point, however, the sign is suffering from direction dysfunction.
The sign for Liestal, Switzerland, points to the west. Jinan, China, is east of us, according to the sign. And San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua, is north - not 2,500 miles southeast - if you believe City Hall.
Of course, you could get to all of those places by following the signs, it would just take a lot longer than the recommended routes.
City staffers said the directional placement is only temporary until the exact directions toward the sister cities can be determined and signs can be reset.
Once the process starts, don't be surprised if a sign or two seems a bit off; some cities are in the same general direction from Sacramento and the city wants to "fan" the signs out to create a visual balance, said city spokeswoman Linda Tucker.
In November, the City Council approved the placement of the sign in the plaza between old and new City Hall, close to 10th Street.
It was paid for with $8,000 out of a neighborhood fund controlled by former Councilman Ray Tretheway.
- Ryan Lillis
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