How did he become a citizen?

Re "Triumph in shadow of tragedy" (Page A1, Oct. 27): Sam Stanton wrote a moving account of an immigrant from Honduras, Nelson Rivera, whose wife was one of the 10 victims in the 2002 random shooting spree in the District of Columbia area. On Oct. 21 he became a U.S. citizen, and on Nov. 10 he is looking forward to witnessing the execution of the infamous D.C. sniper, to bring closure to a tragedy.

Great story, so far.

But then the story also relates how Rivera had tried three times to cross the border with Mexico. The last time, immigration officials let Rivera enter the United States because they were more interested in catching the guy who tried to smuggle him in.

Aren't we talking illegal immigrant here? What I (and I suspect many others) would like to know is, by what path did the illegal immigrant become a citizen of the United States?

Unless I missed something, that part was not told in the account. In the ongoing immigration debate, this piece of information would be highly important to all immigrants of the legal and illegal kind, and all Americans.

– Rudy Hendriks, Orangevale

Governor doesn't feel our pain

Re "Can Arnold be bold again?" (Forum, Oct. 25): The main problem with the Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger administration is that it is a part-time job for the governor and first lady. He commutes home each evening to the land of Hollywood make-believe. He and his wife do not take part in events in Sacramento.

The governor is out of touch with the pain and misery his policies have caused Californians. He is not in Sacramento on Furlough Fridays to see the empty stores, nor does he drive through the streets to see "for sale" signs on homes. Their children go to private schools so they do not have to experience consequences of cuts to education.

I appreciate Maria Shriver's efforts on behalf of women. I worked in a state doctoral-level job in the 1970s and 1980s as a single mom and had to get a second job to pay the bills. But what has she done for Californians to improve the quality of their lives?

What California needs is a full-time first family and a governor who has the skill set to work collaboratively with legislators and department directors to solve the state's problems.

– Betty Sutton, El Dorado Hills

A little film history for you

The saga of "balloon boy" Falcon Heene and his publicity-hungry family reminds me of the Humphrey Bogart movie "The Maltese Falcon."

In the film, the black bird is found after a long chase, but when the ringleader scratches the falcon, he finds no precious gems. In the Heene case, the helium-filled "flying saucer" is recovered after a long chase, but when the rescuers pierce the balloon, they find no precious Falcon.

Yet, even after the fraud is discovered, the public and media still chase the story. Why? Because, like Bogey said in the movie, it's "the stuff that dreams are made of."

– Robert Urbanek, Vacaville

Who's the real balloon culprit?

The balloon boy's parents didn't make the story. The 24-hour media made the story. There would be no offense if they hadn't blown it up. Any good newspaper would blow it away. The story is CNN or Fox, or the stations that have to pander to them. It's not some silly stunt.

– Martin Dyer, Sacramento

No more homeless stereotypes

Re "Homelessness isn't the problem" (Letters, Oct. 27): Jack Thompson writes the real problem is not homelessness, but drugs, alcohol, etc. Wrong!

As a person who spends time daily with homeless people and people in housing, I can say the percentage of drug- and alcohol-addicted persons doesn't change with a person's housing status. That's a separate issue. So is the crisis with our local mental health services, which are next to none.

Today's victims of homelessness can engage you in an intelligent conversation on any number of subjects. The group of campers who took up residence on C Street were quite possibly the largest contingent of clean and sober people to enter that area in years. Psychological counseling? You'll need it too when you find yourself in their situation.