Closing parks ignores their role in our quality of life

Re "Twilight for a state park" (Forum, Jan. 22): It is both strange and sad that we have to close public lands because our state cannot afford to protect them. The biodiversity and the beautiful geography are important attractions to visitors and new residents to California, and it's unfortunate to have to deny access to our state parks.

Strengthening the economy is about more than just saving jobs, it is about providing a high quality of life, which should include experiencing all that California has to offer.

– Delaney Wong, Sacramento

Parks are victims of war against the middle class

State and national parks are an important part of the lifestyle for the middle class. Closing these parks and reducing upkeep and maintenance is another part of the class warfare being waged so extensively against the middle and lower classes.

Fortunately, the Occupy movement is aware of this class warfare. But it's unlikely their efforts will save our parks. Because the class warfare is too extensive and too powerful. With the Citizens United decision, the big corporate powers are overwhelming our political process. Only politicians with this backing can prevail in what is fast becoming a corporate autocracy.

– Merick Chaffee, Sacramento

We shouldn't be bragging about abortion 'services'

Re "We can do more to clear barriers to abortion care" (Viewpoints, Jan. 22): Ana Rodriquez is not living in reality and "abortion care" is an oxymoron. Abortion hurts women emotionally, physically and spiritually. Many women regret their abortion. They are told it is just a mass of tissue, not a fully formed child, and they are not informed of the health risks.

The coat-hanger graphic accompanying the commentary is really silly; women don't use coat hangers to abort their unborn and women did not die in back alley abortions, as she alluded to. These are lies that many of us no longer believe. Today's generation is more pro-life than ever. A majority of them say abortion is wrong. And Californians should not brag about abortion "services" that date to 1967 because it makes us the leading killer of unborn children.

– Amy Scherschligt, Carmichael

Article about abortion failed to mention babies

I almost wept after reading Ana Rodriguez's article. It stated the landmark Roe v. Wade decision "was life changing for many women who stopped dying alone in what we call 'abortion alleys.' " No mention was made that it was also life changing for the babies killed in the United States since the Supreme Court decision.

Those who support abortion object to using "babies" to identify the victims of abortion. Other more technical words are often used.

Rodriguez speaks for women as if abortion is the only choice. It is not. I speak for the babies.

– Dan Kimbell, Folsom

Why not offer alternatives instead of abortion?

Ana Rodriguez, executive director of ACCESS Women's Health Justice, writes it's difficult to find access for clients to obtain "safe and legal abortion"; maybe she should focus on helping clients by providing counseling and alternatives to abortion.

– Shirley Schultz, Lincoln

Redevelopment? No, we have to prioritize funds

Re "Redevelopment was working – why kill it?" (Another View, Jan. 22): Let me respond to the headline: Because we cannot afford it.

Redevelopment is a legitimate effort for any local government. The issue is funding. I suspect that Kevin Hanley understands the consequences of spending money you don't have. Politicians at all levels of government must start acting in response to that simple equation. We have to start prioritizing how our money is spent and where we will get the money. Schools are more important than prisons. Repairing highways and bridges is more important than high speed rail. Health care for all needs to be a top-five item. That's my opinion. Let's talk about it.

– Greg Pompetti, Roseville

Israeli diversity should embrace Palestinian Arabs

Re "Israel's diversity challenge looks familiar" (Viewpoints, Jan. 22): Ruben Navarrette's commentary about demographics and diversity in Israel invites a focus on the largest minority group: Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel, about 20 percent of the population, and also the more than 700,000 Palestinians displaced during the 1948 war who have been denied their right to return.

Indeed the Israeli policy of maintaining "a strong Jewish majority," through immigration and otherwise, is very much as if California sought to maintain an overwhelming Anglo majority.

Navarrette's analogy between Israel and our Southwest is thus more apt than he may have imagined, and points the way to peace through inclusion and diversity embracing Palestinian Arabs as well as Ethiopian Jews and other recent immigrants.

– Margo Schulter, Sacramento

Picture-perfect writing

Re "Can you see the real me?" (California Sketches, Jan. 22): I am a retired newspaper copy editor, so I know good writing when I see it. I thought Stephanie Taylor's piece on Russ Solomon in the Sunday Bee was the very picture of gorgeous writing.

– Al Perrin, Placerville

FACEBOOK RESPONSES

Readers respond to the Jan. 22 Forum story "Twilight for a state park" by Susan Sward, who visited the Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area's Redwood Campground north of San Francisco, which has been closed due to budget constraints. The closure is part of the California Department of Parks and Recreation's move to cope with the Legislature's $22 million cut in its budget for 2012-13. Sward writes that nine of the state's 70 parks targeted for closure have found partners to help them remain open. The National Park Service has stepped in to help some remain open; also, donors, local government and others have reached agreements to run parks in their areas.

• We as a society care far less for our priceless natural resources than we do our toys which after use, don't take long to turn to junk. Sad.

– Toni Curtis

• Oh, no! What can we do to help? "Adopt a state park"?

– Quad Dean

• Kalifornia … The new Third World.

– Bert Sousa

• The state park system is a jewel, to neglect it is reprehensible.

– Ellen La Scola

• While I value and treasure our state parks, I could care less what aliens think.

– John T. Ly

• If a state park is closed, does that mean it's off-limits?

– Robin Baral

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