Letters: Unhappy readers, fireworks, late budget, Cindy McCain

Stop picking on county workers

Re "Heartless budget protects supes' backsides," editorial, June 15: I'm tired of reading my local newspaper and seeing my hard-working fellow county employees slammed constantly. The recent blatantly one-sided articles about CPS, the editorial regarding balancing the budget and employee pay raises, pensions and retiree health plans, and the barrage of negative press when workers were forced to go on strike two years ago have made me think twice about paying for this subscription.

My CPS co-workers bust their chops to ensure the safety of children every day. Did Ms. Lundstrom talk about any kids that were success stories? No.

When I retire, with my "generous" pension, I'll make about half of what I bring home now. That's about $1,500. If there's no retiree health, I'll bring home around $1,000. I have a college degree and have given years to the county and will be likely be eligible for Medi-Cal.

It is with resignation that I withdraw my subscription to the the Sacramento Bee. Editors, it may be worth your while to realize that Sacramento is a government town. Keep burning us and you may not have any subscribers left.

- Sarah Singleton, Sacramento

Bee's story placement assailed

In the Sunday Forum I saw that a new column by Rick Kushman will be called "The Good Life." Is that a kind of "Ozzie and Harriet" column? That's not what I see around Sacramento these days; I see many hard-working, struggling, distressed and very worried people.

Then on Page A8 of the June 30 paper, I read an article entitled "State Department involved in Iraq oil contracts, U.S. officials disclose". Really! That belongs with big caps on Page A1.

I always hope that people in Sacramento read rather than depend on TV. Now you can't even depend on The Bee to set priorities in its story placement.

I myself have started reading the Guardian and Economist, both British. I guess I could try other American papers, but look what happened to the L.A. Times staff and even the Wall Street Journal. Forget about it.

- Jerry Ann Campbell, Shingle Springs

Spare the air? Not so much

When we were all choking on the fire-driven bad air in recent days, where was the local air quality management team? No spare the air warnings, no ban on charcoal barbecue fires. Are they only in business when fireplaces are in use?

- Albert Cooper, Sacramento

Fires create a 'teaching moment'

Re "Call to skip fireworks fizzles," June 29: With more than 1,400 fires burning in California right now, it's sad to read people's objections to the governor's call for a ban on fireworks this year.

Shannon Blecha and others who work long hours to help their community or church are missing a great teaching moment for the youth with whom they work. This is a time where the good of the community should take precedent. We are on fire; not just in the forests, but houses off the freeways, communities built in areas that were once "country" and anywhere a spark catches and is blown into flames of destruction.

Everyone has a responsibility to do whatever possible to be aware of the conditions and help however possible. "It's a tradition," says Blecha. Why not a tradition of responsibility to the community and ourselves to help the situation, not make it worse? Consider also the air quality we've had this past week and think about how we can do our part for the community by not lighting a gazillion paper fireworks to spew their stinky polluting smoke into the atmosphere. Every little bit helps.

- Susan Schneider, Sacramento

Safety should come first

Re "Call to skip fireworks fizzles," June 29: While very sympathetic to the charities who rely on the sale of fireworks each year to support their various causes, I believe there comes a time when we all need to make the mature decisions that life sometimes forces upon us.

Have Blair Anthony Robertson or the people interviewed in his article been listening to the news or reading his very own newspaper? Have they been breathing the same air? The entire state of California is in a critical situation that not only endangers property and wildlife, but the firefighters who are courageously battling to keep our homes safe from harms way.

While I have never been a huge fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger's politics, I must defend his position in this matter; to insinuate that he's being un-American because he chooses safety over popularity is just irresponsible on Robertson's part. He and those he interviewed said that the holiday wouldn't be the same and the governor just wants to "douse everyone's fun." It will be interesting to see how much fun people will be having if they are forced to run for their lives because one of those "safe and sane" fireworks makes it to their rooftop.

- Nina Malone, Rocklin

Let's fine the legislators

As a citizen of the state of California, I am expected to follow the laws of the state. If I violate those rules, I must accept the consequences. For example, if I speed in the "cone zone," I could pay a fine of $1,000 or more.

There is a group of citizens who apparently are above the law. Our legislators have repeatedly ignored the law. The constitution requires them to pass a budget by June 15.

It's time that legislators who ignore the law should have to pay. Let's charge them $1,000 a day for every day the budget is late. I bet we would have a budget on time if there was a real penalty to not complying. The state will be a lot healthier if the Legislature tackles the budget fairly and on time.

You would think individuals who are paid more than $100,000 a year to pass a budget could get it done on time.

- Nancy Mitchell, Folsom

Cindy McCain's compassion

Re "Like us … give or take millions," letter, July 1: The writer's dislike of Cindy McCain overlooked her extreme compassion in adopting the terminally ill Bangladeshi girl who was saved from death by American medicine. After the girl was brought to the U.S.A. for treatment, she was cured and later adopted by the McCains as one of their own. How many of us can say we would do the same for an unfortunate in the world?

- Gordon R. Gibson, Orangevale