Elderly at risk with cuts, too

Re "Child homicides up after county's cuts" (Our Region, Jan. 25): The death of any child due to lost resources from budget cuts is horrible. Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna was correct that officials have too narrowly defined public safety.

This also is the message that the Adult and Aging Commission has consistently brought to the annual budget discussions before the Board of Supervisors.

Children are not the only ones who are vulnerable. So are dependent adults and the frail elderly, who are especially at increased risk of abuse in troubled financial times. Cuts to Adult Protective Services, In-Home Supportive Services and public guardian budgets have been even worse than for children's services.

The safety of all our vulnerable, potential victims of abuse deserves more resources if we are to be a civilized community. I hope the Elder Death Review Team can also make their reports available for consideration at budget hearings.

– Pam Flohr, Carmichael

Too much greed among leaders

Re "Pension board raises execs' pay" (Our Region, Jan. 24): Richard Stensrud, CEO of the Sacramento County Employees' Retirement System, says dividends from pension system investments pay for raises. But these have fallen short, so "other county agencies have to ensure sufficient funds to pay obligations." Where will that money come from?

I was at a Senior Community Bingo event Wednesday night and all in attendance were appalled at the thoughtless mindset and lack of fiduciary responsibility.

On top of that there is absolutely no comment from Gov. Jerry Brown, though he touts the need for pension reform.

And legislative leaders have the gall to sue over lost pay. We seniors are ashamed of the greed and avarice that defines today's politicians.

– Joseph Stein, Sacramento

Make Fruitridge area walkable

Re "Death fuels plans on crosswalk safety (Page A1, Jan. 24): Thank you for your important story on the tragic death of Michelle Murigi while she was walking across Fruitridge Road at 58th Street. Michelle's loss hurts us all, as she was an unusually aware and caring teenager. In fact, she had expressed concerns about the safety of walkers in this area and had recently taken part in a video voice project, noting in the video assessment how dangerous it was to cross at this intersection.

Michelle's death underlines the great need in Sacramento to make walking safe for everyone. Sacramento's Fruitridge area has many challenges to the safety of residents.

– Teri Duarte, executive director, WALKSacramento, Sacramento

Real issue is poverty, not tests

Re "Rhee says goal is to be a voice for kids in education" (Our Region, Jan. 25): The biggest obstacle to student achievement is child poverty, a topic Michelle Rhee assiduously avoids. Nations with high-performing schools have essentially zero child poverty, because all children have health care and the other supports necessary to school success.

Rhee wants to base teacher evaluations on student test scores. If we do not wish teachers to teach to the test, if we want them to be passionate and creative, how can she insist that their performance be measured by test scores?

Instead, to guarantee equality of educational opportunity, we should provide health care and other needed resources for all students.

Then invest in the classroom priorities that build the foundation for student learning, including libraries and librarians, smaller class sizes and a well-rounded education including history, arts, PE and music.

– George Sheridan, Garden Valley

Don't cut more from schools

Re "City schools to launch budget-cutting forums" (Our Region, Jan. 26): Like every student in California, I have seen the impact of school budget cuts. Many of us already are suffering in classes of 40-plus students and have access to fewer programs that make school a place for learning. Teachers, counselors and programs are the basis for a school. More cuts will just increase unemployment and dropout rates, leaving the halls and rooms of our schools empty.

– Pa Yeng Thao, Sacramento

Local commuters love trains

Re "Derail high-speed train project" (Letters, Jan. 26): I don't know if now is the time to build a high-speed train system in California, with our economic woes and all. But I had to laugh when I read the letter asserting that we shouldn't build a high-speed train system because "most Californians have never ridden a passenger train."

Each day I commute to the Bay Area on a passenger train filled to the brim with fellow commuters. It's comfortable, relaxing, and a vast improvement over negotiating traffic snarls.

As to the museums to which the letter writer would like to relegate passenger trains, it's true that we no longer ride steam locomotives. We've also, by and large, traded in our oversized vehicles for smaller cars that get better mileage. In short, the letter writer's argument is a non sequitur.

– Amber Dickey, Citrus Heights

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