Letters to the Editor

Re "Tipoff time for new era" (Page A1, May 18): Do not give credit to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson for keeping the Kings in Sacramento.

Re "Apparel firms to invest in safety; government vows labor reform" (Page A1, May 14): There is no doubt the pledge signed by H&M and other large clothing companies will help protect the lives of Bangladeshi garment workers. They should be commended for taking action on this issue. However, this agreement is incomplete. The standards for safety inspections should be expanded to cover all countries these companies manufacture in.

Re "Forces join to push for energy tax" (Page A1, May 20): Proponents of this new $2 billion annual tax claim it is justified because California is the only state without a severance tax.

Re "Liberty Freedom Tea People PAC" (Editorial cartoon, May 21: Cartoonist Matt Bors clearly characterizes the so-called IRS scandal.

Re "Are the naysayers wanting Sacramento to fail?" (Viewpoints, May 21): Bruce Maiman misunderstands the angst people have about the arena. People don't want Sacramento to fail. They just don't want their taxes used to make rich people richer.

Re "What to give that beloved graduate" (Personal finance, May 20): When it comes to graduation gifts please leave your card at home if you have written anything along the lines of "live every day to the fullest" or "these are the years when you find yourself."

Re "Kings group buying Plaza" (Page A1, May 22): With all the energy and conversation about a downtown arena, we are wondering when Sacramento will finally get it's head out of the sand and take a lesson from real "world class" cities that focus development on their greatest resource, the river.

Re "Forces join to push for energy tax" (Page A1, May 20): The Bee's one-sided presentation of Senate Bill 241, the proposed oil severance tax, completely ignores that voters and the Legislature have already rejected similar taxes in the past.

Re "Sex symbol or not, a personal decision" (Editorial Notebook, May 16): My step-mother of 11 years was diagnosed with cancer about two weeks ago. So when Ginger Rutland's appeared, portraying her courage, strength and gratification towards life despite cancer, it brought a surge of hope with it.

Re "Kings group buying plaza" (Page A1, May 21): The Downtown Mall is in the heart of the central city and makes a good location for a new arena. However, the downtown plaza is the only real shopping mall besides the Arden Mall in Sacramento, after the closing of Florin Mall. It's nearby and convenient.

Re "Adult in the Room" (Editorial cartoon, May 17): Contrary to Jack Ohman's cartoon, the legislators in the California Assembly have joined the governor in practicing fiscal responsibility to help California get back to work.

Re "Shelters optional in tornado zone" (Page A1, May 22): This article omitted the key reason why most homes in Oklahoma, Kansas and Central Texas do not have basements or underground storm shelters; shifting red clay soil.

The home care industry sorely needs and wants a good licensure bill, an honest licensure bill, like Assembly Bill 322 by Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis, who chairs the Assembly's Committee on Aging and Long-term Care.

Re "More limits proposed for teen drivers" (Capitol & California, April 23): California lawmakers wants to put restrictions on 18- and 19-year-old drivers, forbidding them from driving with passengers under age 20 or being on the streets after 11 p.m. Those regulations will affect in the teen independence, by not letting them getting night jobs and giving rides to classmates.

Re "Crash kills driver, injures two" (Our Region, May 14): The Bee recently reported on California Conservation Corps members who were injured when a Reno man lost control of his car on Interstate 80 near Soda Springs while leading CHP officers on a high-speed chase.

Re "Hospital prices vary wildly" (Our Region, May 9) and "Viva Mexico's rational health care system" (Forum, April 7): All this rang home today when I received statements from my insurance company for charges imposed by Marshall Hospital in Placerville.

Re "Can Dems curb urge to spend?" (Dan Walters, May 19): An expected $3 billion state surplus this year should be paid entirely toward the $4.5 billion annual shortfall in the state teachers' pension system (CalSTRS).

Re "Tipoff time for new era" (Page A1, May 18): With a new arena, the capital of one of the biggest states in America will keep a team in a major, professional sport. The arena's construction will bring many jobs and bring life and new revenues to downtown.

Re "Crooks found to be counselors" (Capitol & California, May 14): I highly disagree with the way California certifies substance abuse counselors. Unlike most large states, California does not require criminal or other background checks for drug and alcohol abuse counselors.