Occupiers missed golden opportunity to make their point

Re "Many shine at Golden Globes" (Page A1, Jan. 16): The Golden Globes awards ceremony would have been a great opportunity for the 99 percent Occupiers to target the 1 percent rich.

Where were they with their protests and signs and their demands that the rich subsidize the poor, when the rich people they despise gathered?

Where were they with their demands that the rich pay higher taxes to pay for government services?

They do not want to target the liberal elite Hollywood types because they do not want to offend the liberal rich. They prefer to attack the people who work 50-hour weeks to earn a living, and, if successful in their endeavors, may acquire wealth.

Let's not target those Hollywood types who contribute to liberal causes and candidates.

– David Tirapelle, Rancho Murieta

U.S. shouldn't pay for dialysis

Re "They are playing with my life" (Page A1, Jan. 14): Ignacio Viera has two felony drug convictions and has been deported three prior times and now is on dialysis. However, he feels that it is the United States' responsibility to take care of his medical needs, to the tune of $60,000 to $70,000 per year.

This is only one of how many other illegal immigrants we are paying for who are bleeding our country dry.

Viera tries to justify that we taxpayers should pay for his dialysis because he has various jobs and has allegedly paid taxes. It's about time Americans vote in representatives who will enforce the immigration laws, so people who are here legally don't have to pay the bills for any illegal immigrants of any nationality.

– Gordon Blakeman, Roseville

Charter school deserves praise

Re "W. Sac charter school needs to be watched" (Editorials, Jan. 11): This school indeed needs to be watched, but not for the reasons stated in the editorial. The California Charter School Association claims that due to low test scores, the school's charter should not be renewed.

I attended the school board meeting where, I estimate, more than a third of the student body showed up.

Anyone interested in discovering what educational reform looks like should review the recorded comments made by the school's students, parents and teachers.

"This school changed my life. It saved me."

"My child used to hate school. Now that's all he talks about."

A litany of such heartfelt comments consumed one-and-a-half hours of public input. It was truly powerful. Yes, this school should be watched, so we can better understand how schools can prepare all students for the future.

– Brian Donnelly, teacher, Davis Joint Unified School District

Sacramento needs help

Re "It's Round 3 for mayoral power plan" (Page A1, Jan. 16): As one of the vice chairs of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, I am in strong support of the Checks and Balances Act that is coming before the City Council tonight.

Our board voted unanimously to support this act and to have it placed on the June 2012 ballot.

Our city is suffering from high unemployment, and our leaders need to develop a strategy to promote jobs in this community.

The Sacramento region is the sixth-worst in which to find a job; the ninth-worst for getting pink slips; more recently, the 99th city to do business in.

Our citizens deserve the right to vote on this act and have the person managing this city directly accountable to its citizens.

– Stan O. Van Vleck, Sacramento

In support of strong mayor

I was initially opposed to Mayor Kevin Johnson's strong mayor proposal, but am now inclined to vote for this new version.

If we expect to hold our mayor responsible for Sacramento's future, he or she needs the authority to influence the outcome.

When Johnson could not get the council to vote for Gus Vina as city manager even when the mayor endorsed Vina, I realized the mayor's position needs more power.

– Chris Paros, Sacramento

Classical music fan is upset

Re "Fans of classical music on radio aren't in harmony with jazz incursion" (Our Region, Jan. 15): It is not a jazzy decision to have Capital Public Radio changing programming to jazz in the evenings.

No one asked, but I listened to the station with classical music for about two hours each evening. I feel that subscribers and listeners should have had a voice.

My worry is that support will drop and the classics will disappear altogether. In the meantime, I will have to resort to listening to my CDs in the evening.

I shall continue to listen during the day as long as it is there for me. Changes are not always for the best.

– Madeline Crane, Sacramento

Shootout deserved more ink

Re "Report: Deputy under attack shoots man" (Page B2, Jan. 16): A Sacramento County sheriff's deputy shot a suspect, not once but twice, after the suspect fled. There was a chase and a scuffle ensued, with the deputy firing his weapon, wounding the suspect and most probably saving his own life.

Why was this not front-page news? Sure, tougher welfare rules and Mayor Kevin Johnson seeking strong mayor status, and don't forget the Golden Globes, are well and good. But a member of our Sheriff's Department has to shoot a citizen because the officer is under attack, in a disgusting sewer, and that's just another crime report.

Priorities, people.

– Richard Copp, Sacramento

Sheriff needs defense strategy

Re "S.F. sheriff charged with abusing wife" (Page A4, Jan. 14): Why must so much money be spent on a lengthy investigation into San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi when the most practical and cost-effective approach would be to simply ask the sheriff if he has a brain tumor? If he does, that would solve the whole problem. Plead no contest and get probation.

– Ruben L. Guerrero, Woodland

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