LETTERS State tech audit, bees, SMUD, Bach, initiatives

Hits just keep on coming

Re “Audit blasts state tech system” (Capitol & California, March 20): Officials of yet another dysfunctional agency have risen to their level of incompetence. How is it, in the state that really started the tech revolution, and continues to dominate in the world, that its own government can’t get it right when it comes to technology?

Almost $2 billion down the drain, and some of the fixes are just now underway. I am sure there are a lot of good, dedicated staff in the state ranks, but I suspect that the “officials” are where they are because they would never make it out in the private sector, where there is accountability.

Unfortunately, all government entities are monopolies, and eventually that leads to inefficiency and complacency, which is what we are seeing at CalTech. Where is the oversight by the Legislature? This is a terrible report, and not the first.

Keeping informed on bees

Re “Bees need allies beyond nut farms” (Editorials, March 22): I want to thank The Sacramento Bee for its editorial on the plight of the bee population in California and, indeed, across the country. While we innately know the contribution bees make to our agricultural economy, we usually take it for granted that these productive insects will always be there. We in the Auburn area are already doing what we can to get the message out. Under the “One Book, One Community” banner, a series of events are planned around the “Beekeepers Lament,” a book that chronicles the challenges beekeepers must meet throughout the year. The next event is a screening of the film “More Than Honey” at the Auburn State Theater on Thursday . You might be surprised what you may learn.

Opt for analog meters

Re “From local cops to NSA secrets, let sunshine in” (Editorials, March 15): Sunshine (information) is needed at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Three years ago, SMUD voted to allow customers to have their smart electric meters removed and replaced with a safe, reliable and accurate analog meter. SMUD never notified its customers. Consequently, 99 percent of SMUD customers do not know they have this option for protecting their health.

This is a consumer choice issue. Radiation exposure from cellphones and WiFi is discretionary, but not with SMUD smart meters. Many Sacramentans have gotten sick because of SMUD’s smart meters and served SMUD with declarations of harm at SMUD board meetings. There is no biological safety standard. SMUD smart meters transmit microwave radiation 13,000 times a day at levels thousands of times higher than scientifically known to be bioactive and cause biological effects.

If “democracy depends on everyone having all the information,” then SMUD should notify all customers of the analog meter option.

Rodeo’s wrong lessons

Re “Rodeo teaches life lessons” (Our Region, March 22): Rodeo lessons teach that exploiting animals is acceptable, and animals are expendable – especially when profits and ego boosting are ultimate goals.

Compounding the ruse are fabricated spins concocted by rodeo promoters. For starters, bulls were never ridden on ranches. Flank straps, spurs, and illegal electrical shocking were never used when “breaking” a horse. Rodeos use them now solely to agitate horses for entertainment value. If a calf was jerked at the end of a rope and body-slammed, the lesson was job loss.

When a rodeo injury occurs, promoters make certain animals are surrounded to hide suffering from spectators. Announcers always claim it’s “gonna be fine,” and tout stock providers’ good care, never mentioning the dirty little secret of discarded “practice animals.”

To hold crowd interest, bulls are demonized; children compete on sheep; panties are forced on goats; patriotism and god-worship are proselytized.

Airport should conserve, too

Re “Drought rules draw tighter” (Page A1, March 18): My husband and I happened to be at the Sacramento airport on March 22 between 11 p.m. and about 12:30 a.m., a rainy and overcast day in which. as predicated by the weather man, it was raining. Apparently airport officials did not get the message, as every sprinkler at the airport was going full blast. Meanwhile, the rest of us are conserving water by not watering our lawns, cutting back our usage as much as possible and capturing rainwater to water our plants. Wonder if they have cut back or if they get fined?

A Bach-athon shout-out

Re “Powerful sounds celebrate Bach’s birthday, brilliance” (Our Region, March 23): It was most disappointing not to see the full list of organists (and one soloist) mentioned in this morning’s newspaper. All did great finger work and pedal work that amazed all of us listening and watching.

Thanks are not only due to Robin Knutson, Jacob Fiori and Ryan Enright, but also to Rexphil Rallanka, Roxana Stefan, Barry Moenter, David Link, Nancy Metzger, Andrew Cambridge, Wendy Payton, Patricia Grimm, Derek Sup, Scott Nelson, Marian Metson, and Randy Knutson (soloist).

They all practiced long hours on a strange keyboard with stops not in familiar places. Kudos to all of them. It is not fair to elevate some while all worked so hard to make this “Bach-athon” a great success. Great music, everyone. Johann Sebastian Bach would have loved every note of it. Danke!

Disbar McLaughlin

“Deter the deluded: Raise initiative fee“ (Editorials, March 23): Deluded does not begin to describe Matt McLaughlin’s proposed “Sodomite Suppression Act”. He should be disbarred and face charges of inciting violence through speech.

His law invites the general public to act “extra-judicially” in carrying out the law, immune from any charge and indemnified by the state against any and all liability. He is advocating a scale of violence toward the LGBT community that can only be described as a massacre. It is despicable that this act could legally appear on a ballot in our state at all. Political change is needed in more than just the ballot process in our state, but we can start there.

Initiative is terrorism

“Odious initiative shows system’s pitfalls” (Page A1, March 20): Why is it that the author of this astounding initiative allowing the premeditated murder of a specific class of Americans has not been arrested for openly proposing domestic terrorism? Where is the enforcement of federal anti-terrorism laws? Free speech is not all speech.

This story was originally published March 25, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "LETTERS State tech audit, bees, SMUD, Bach, initiatives."