Steinberg diagnosed by reader

Re "Water plan has local goodie" (Page A1, Nov. 4): That Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg would even earmark $10 million for a tolerance center to be constructed during today's economic crisis shows the depth of his Congenital Spending Syndrome, and his divorce from reality.

It's nice that Steinberg wants to help his fellow human beings get along, but please do it without everyone else's money.

As was recently said by a fellow Democrat: "Stop. Just stop spending. Just stop!"

– John Chase, Rocklin

'Steinberg just doesn't get it'

Re "Water plan has local goodie" (Page A1, Nov. 4): Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg just doesn't get it. He tried to include a $10 million gift to his favorite charity in the water bond. His gift is a classic earmark: a gift to his charity tucked into a totally unrelated piece of legislation.

Steinberg's behavior is outrageous. It would be outrageous to put this funding into the water bond. It was outrageous to include a new expenditure at a time the state is slashing funding for schools, social services, parks, etc. And it's incredible that Steinberg doesn't see that this type of cynical behavior is the reason Californians have lost faith in the Legislature and the Democratic Party.

I urge the governor to send this bill back to the Legislature without his signature and demand that all pet projects and gifts be removed from the water bond. Otherwise, I expect the electorate to rightfully reject the bond issue when finally given the chance to vote on it.

– Michael Hill-Weld, Nevada City

Arena's already in good spot

Californians have seen creative engineering solutions for rebuilding sections of the San Francisco Bay Bridge, such as fabricating huge pieces off-site and moving them into place and for repairing sections of Interstate 5 in Sacramento. Engineers in Japan prefabricate entire walls of houses with all utility connections built in, then haul them to the site for setup.

Ask for similar creative proposals to rebuild the existing Arco Arena space. As another letter-writer to The Bee said: It already has the location, the parking, the existing freeway access, infrastructure and utilities in place. None of the other places in consideration do to that extent.

Put in light rail – it's halfway to the airport! The other half would come along.

– Donald Reh, Auburn

Echoes of billing flubs past

Re "Hospital bill stuns slain student's parents" (Page A1, Nov. 3): Sam Stanton's story reaffirmed a bitter experience I had with the UC Davis Medical Center a long time ago.

In December of 1973, my son was pronounced dead at UC Davis Medical Center. I was there when I was told that he had died. Responding to my reaction, hospital staff offered me a shoulder, a chair, a hug – I can't remember. I was not a patient. Days later I received an invoice from the hospital for psychiatric treatment. I disputed it and never heard from them again.

Even today it is apparent that UC Davis Medical Center still needs to do some cleanup in its clerical department and billing policies.

– Monika Busby, Sacramento

Another bad billing experience

Re "Hospital bill stuns slain student's parents" (Page A1, Nov. 3): Letter: My heart goes out to the Hawkins family on their having to deal with the UC Davis Medical Center billing office on top of the tragic loss of their beloved son.

Contrary to what the hospital spokesperson implies, however, such billing errors are all too common at UCDMC. While my family members and I appreciate the care we have received at UCDMC for many years, its billing office is in shambles. We have had to deal with many erroneous bills and requests for payment from us despite direct payments from our insurance company on services provided. I have been yelled at, insulted and treated like a child on the phone by UCDMC billing office representatives.

Multiple letters I have written to the UCDMC billing office simply got ignored, while the erroneous bills were sent to collection agencies. The only time I ever received a response from the UCDMC billing office was when I wrote to its boss and complained.