Forum Letters: Mayor Steinberg’s unfulfilled pledge and Reopening schools is dangerous
Shut it down, again
“California’s coronavirus strategy failed. Should Gov. Newsom impose another shutdown?” (sacbee.com, July 23):
California has become the state with the most COVID-19 cases in the United States.
The rush to reopen the economy allowed the virus to run out of control and now we have no other choice but to shut it back down. California must institute a new lock down until we meet key criteria established by public health experts. First, we need to expand our daily testing capacity. Currently, California is only meeting 40% of the target. Secondly, the government must hire enough contact tracers to trace all current cases. California is far short of the number needed. Finally, we must produce enough personal protective equipment to keep essential workers safe. Hundreds of public health experts are calling for a second lock down, and as unappealing as that is, it’s necessary to save thousands of lives.
But this time, we’re counting on California’s decision makers to do it right.
Claudia Deeg,
Albany
Disappointment with Elk Grove mayor
“Elk Grove mayor did nothing to stop campaign aide’s sexist, racist remarks, local official says” (sacbee.com, Aug. 4):
After reading Jaclyn Moreno’s account of sexual harassment during her 2018 campaign for Elk Grove City Council, I feel compelled to express my disappointment.
While what Consumnes Community Services District Director Moreno experienced might have been normalized in the past, the majority now recognize that permitting such behavior is unacceptable, unethical and of course illegal. (1964 Civil Rights Act anyone?) Today’s public demands change and we insist on accountability. As an Elk Grove citizen raising teen daughters, I want to live in a community whose leaders demonstrate respect for and support of women and all those denied equality.
Right now, I don’t live in that city.
Cynthia Dobbs,
Elk Grove
Reopening schools is dangerous
“State cracks open door for Sacramento-area students to return to classroom — what’s next?” (sacbee.com, Aug. 5):
As with the state’s disjointed reopening debacle, this waiver program appears nonsensical.
If a county has COVID-19 case rates and hospital capacity limitations leading to watch list status, then the county’s schools must not reopen. Disturbingly, the waiver’s justification boldly claims that “COVID-related risks in schools serving elementary-age students (grades TK-6) are lower than and different from the risks to staff and to students in schools serving older students.” This is untrue and dangerous. Scientific research has provided inconclusive results concerning COVID-19 risks with younger children. Even if elementary students have lower mortality rates than older individuals, they are not guaranteed to escape the virus unscathed. The waiver also ignores health risks to teachers, older family members and the community at-large. Infectious-disease experts consistently caution against reopening schools in regions with high community spread. California’s watch list counties have high community spread.
No waivers for in-person elementary school instruction should be allowed.
Cameron Goodman,
Davis
Mayor Steinberg’s unfulfilled pledge
“With ‘strong mayor’ and rent control wins, Steinberg schools Sacramento activists” (sacbee.com, Aug. 6):
The Bee editorial suggests the strong mayor initiative is just opposed by a small group of anti-establishment activists.
The 6-3 council vote, with Katie replacing Hansen, shows growing opposition. A widely read Next Door post says most residents oppose it. For two years now, neighbors regularly ask Mayor Steinberg for an update on his campaign pledge to reduce the major and problematic concentration of old public housing projects, and integrate it throughout Sacramento using fair share and effectiveness principles. The mayor has NOT responded even once!
The mayor should communicate with constituents on major issues, promise less, deliver more and not dwell on power and defeating widespread opposing views.
Craig Chaffee,
Sacramento
Local newspapers are vital
“An only-in-California problem: Why your newspaper delivery driver could disappear” (sacbee.com, Aug. 7):
I wrote the following letter to State Senator Richard Pan and State Assemblyman Kevin McCarty.
An informed citizenry is vital to the continuance of a democracy and local newspapers are vital to an informed citizenry. Assembly Bill 5 was well-intentioned and may be beneficial to some businesses and employees. However, it is a death knell for local newspapers. Computers and the internet are useful but, so often, an awkward, uninformative and inaccurate medium for garnering factual information. Newspapers are not. There MUST be exemptions to AB 5 for newspaper carriers, delivery people and distributors. PLEASE support the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution. PLEASE help counter the dissemination of the tidal wave of fake news by Russian hacker bots. PLEASE help stop the coronavirus hole in the American economy from getting even deeper.
It’s the patriotic thing to do.
Richard Vidan,
Orangevale
Left speechless by front page
“10,000 dead of coronavirus in California. 100 dead in its capital. How did we get here?” (sacbee.com, Aug. 9):
I was left speechless by the front page of Sunday’s paper with it’s 10,000 California, coronavirus induced coffins.
Then, on page 3A was the reality that 220,000 lives were lost to the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombs. I tried to imagine 22 front pages filled with 10,000 coffins each... heartache. We are working so hard and fast to find a vaccine to prevent the spread of one virus. Yet, the human made viruses of fear, hate, ignorance and war rage and ravage our precious planet. If we would only immunize our children with love and gratitude for our diversity, the cycle could be broken. Does anyone remember “Beyond War,” an anti-nuclear movement in the 80s that swept the world, one grassroots gathering at a time?
There was a glimmer of hope back then. We need that again.
Mary Blanchette,
Sacramento