Dude, Where's My Payphone?

The first coin-operated telephone was made public in 1889 in Hartford, Connecticut. Fron that point on, the payphone had itself 'a good run,' as they say.

However, what had been as American as baseball and apple pie is slowly giving way to the immensity of cellular phone tehchnology. Most phone companies are moving away from the payphone due to its financial liability. In fact, a few months ago, the Central Libray lost its payphones and so too was the case at City Hall. Even the Metro Post Office recently lost their phone.

So, caught in a bind - sans phone - what does one do around the Central Library? Although on the ebb, there are payphones and other telecommunications alternatives in the area. Here's a list:

*Joe Serna Jr. Cal/EPA Headquarters Building 1001 I Street P.O. Box 2815 Sacramento, CA 95812-2815 (916) 551-1313 Comments: Building is open 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Staff will allow the general public to use a courtesy phone, provided calls are local.

*"K" Street Mall: AT&T Payphone at the southwest corner of 9th and "K;" MCI Payphone at the northwest corner of 8th and "K;" MCI Payphone at the southwest corner of 8th and "K."

*Cathedral Neighborhood Center 711 J St Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 442-9014. AT&T Payphone is located outside, just in front of Center.

*Sacramento County Main Jail 651 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Comments: 4 AT&T payphones are located in front of main entrance, on "I" Street.