Bias claim, tax returns, police shooting

Actions should have consequences

Re “Black worker, NAACP claim bias at City Hall” and “ITT students left dangling as company closes nationwide” (Page 1A, Sept. 7): The two stories on the front page are similar in scope; one, the city worker who has filed a $500,000 claim against Sacramento for alleged racial and age discrimination after an outside audit found several costly mistakes for miscalculating city retirees. The first reprimand was a reduction in title and duties, the second time was a pay cut.

The other story involving taxpayer-funded ITT Technical Institute, which blamed the feds for cutting off student loans for what ITT called, “unwarranted federal action.” That questionable federal action was taken because ITT’s recruiting and accounting practices were being investigated.

Here’s a refreshing thought, instead of being quick to pass blame onto another, accept responsibility for our own, or our corporation’s, mistakes. Be responsible for what we do, take the fall and hopefully learn from it.

Isaacs should have been fired

OMG! Kimberly Isaacs committed an egregious monetary error at work affecting hundreds, if not thousands, of retirees and claims bias for being demoted? She should have been fired.

Now she wants the city of Sacramento (in essence us) to pay her $500,000 compensation for being demoted and losing $20,000 pay. And to get that, she will use the race card. The NAACP should not hitch their wagon to this lady. This is the kind of thing that drives everyone nuts.

Maybe she was just held accountable

Kimberly Isaacs claims that she was demoted because she is black and over 50 after an audit found a problem with retiree payments calculations. Could it be that she was not doing her job but felt entitled to keep her position?

Maybe there is no discrimination and employees are finally being held accountable.

Yes, we need to see tax returns

Re “No need to see tax returns” (Letters, Sept. 7): Leonard Cook says there is no need to see tax returns as it is irrelevant to one’s ability to do the job. Yes, it is extremely relevant and taking simplistic approaches in determining one’s vote is why our country is in a mess.

Let’s not pretend: Donald Trump is hiding something. Is he a tax cheat? Does he give nothing to charity? Does he derive income from investments in Ukraine and Russia? Who knows? He has a labyrinthine collection of partnerships, private corporations, holding companies and other investments.

Americans do not know if he is a joint investor with unsavory characters (he has been before) or what financial incentives drive him. As Richard Nixon once said, in declaring that he welcomed an examination of his taxes, “People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook.”

Revelation of tax returns should be a requirement of all political offices.

Dems should push Trump on returns

The Democrats should be much more forceful about Donald Trump releasing his tax returns. The way in which a person reports income, the federal credits they claim, foreigners to whom they owe money, and the amount of tax they have paid tells a lot about how much they have benefited from our current tax structure that favors billionaires. And how likely they would be to change it.

Commercial real estate is the most heavily subsidized asset in our tax system. So my guess is Trump does not want the American public to know that he pays no federal tax and probably receives a hefty refund. Prove me wrong.

Just trying to stir up trouble

Re “Clarity critical in probe of killing” (Local, Sept. 4): Once again Marcos Breton tries to stir the pot regarding a shooting by Sacramento police and the investigation. He urges the release of information and a video of the incident before the investigation his complete.

He has no concept of how this early release could prejudice the outcome of the investigation. Attorney Bruce Praet was correct in advising the council to wait until all of the facts and reports are in.

Once again, too many bills

Re “789 bills made it to Brown; Which ones will he sign?” (Insight, Sept. 7): Is the Legislature trying to justify its existence in sending 789 bills for the governor to review and sign? As a taxpayer, I resent the overbearing means by which the Legislature continues to run every aspect of our daily living.

Unfortunately, the nanny state is alive and well, and continues to make citizens and businesses uncomfortable in what used to be a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 1:49 AM with the headline "Bias claim, tax returns, police shooting."