California forum letters: Bee readers take on Loloee, Citrus Heights, recall reform

Immigration reform

“Afghans desperately seeking refuge in California reflect broader US policy failure,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 31)

While your editorial was correct that the current U.S. policy regarding immigrants seeking refuge here represents a failure, applying this to the Afghan crisis is completely incorrect. The issues facing the family you described clearly represents a failure by President Biden and his administration, with exceedingly poor planning in the final withdrawal of U.S. troops. The continued failure of the State Department is not due to a failed U.S. policy but rather the inability of the current commander in chief to lead this country.

That being said, I’m not saying the previous administration did a good job either. It’s time for the U.S. legislature to do its job and complete comprehensive immigration reform.

Frank Apgar

Fair Oaks

Inspired

“Sacramento family escaped the Taliban. How this principal was a lifeline from back home,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 31)

This is journalism at its best. And Nate McGill is humanity at its best.

Stan Atkinson

Sacramento

Boycott Citrus Heights

“Citrus Heights passes ‘personal choice’ resolution regarding COVID vaccine,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 29)

It’s time to boycott the city of Citrus Heights. Its City Council has shown that it cares little about the health and safety of its citizens and those that visit and shop within the city limits in the passing of a misguided “personal choice” resolution. The so-called personal choice resolution threatens the health and safety of all persons.

They may as well pass a resolution allowing the personal choice to drink and drive whenever one chooses. Both have proven to be deadly to the innocent. I, for one, will, whenever possible, spend my money somewhere else for now on.

Cliff Vose

Antelope

Affordable housing confusion

“‘Not a fan of affordable housing’: North Sacramento councilman still doesn’t grasp his job,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 28)

It’s important that Councilman Sean Loloee’s lack of knowledge of affordable housing be presented clearly and discussed in an open forum. Here’s a local businessman who sees the connection between the housing needs of his employees and the development of affordable housing. I would suspect that many of his employees qualify for such housing. This column reveals that many do not understand what is meant by affordable housing.

Tom Monpere

Sacramento

Recall reform

“Is it too easy to hold a recall in California? Lawmakers raise changes after Newsom victory,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 30)

Seemingly none of our lawmakers are focusing on the crucial reason why recall changes are needed: To survive a recall in California, a governor has to receive as many votes as all the alternative candidates put together. No voter-suppression laws in Texas or elsewhere have the potential for being as dramatically efficient as our current law at subverting the will of California voters.

California deserves a constitutional process for recall that can sustain the test of time and changing circumstances. Allowing the recalled governor to be listed as one of the alternative candidates would be a significant improvement.

Edric Cane

Carmichael

Stop frivolous recalls

“Is it too easy to hold a recall in California? Lawmakers raise changes after Newsom victory,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 30)

A small fraction of registered voters compelled the state to spend $276 million, and the outcome was that the governor retained his position with the same margin as his initial election. A tiny minority should not be permitted to drive this level of wasted resources.

We have impeachment or criminal charges for horribly egregious behavior. Reforms like permitting the recalled officer to be elected in the same ballot, automatic replacement by a pre-established line of succession or raising the bar to hold a recall would go a long way to discourage frivolous recalls.

David Theil

Mountain View

Public scrutiny

“California’s unemployment fraud reaches at least $20 billion,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 26)

Kudos to Assemblyman Tom Lackey for continuing to press the unemployment fraud issue in California. If the numbers are correct, this issue still isn’t receiving the attention it deserves. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Employment Development Department Director Rita Saenz “assure state lawmakers that the fraud pipeline in California has been closed.” Information contained elsewhere in the article tends to undercut that assertion.

A state audit “blasted the department for doing little to stop the fraud ... blaming the Newsom administration for ‘significant missteps and inaction.’” According to state officials, “California has given away at least $20 billion to criminals” in fraudulent benefits, with Lackey saying 17,000 houses could be bought using about half the money. This issue deserves more public scrutiny.

Bill Motmans

Sacramento