California forum letters: Bee readers take on chaotic public meetings, Jackie Speier
Chaos
“Angry, violent, toxic: How extremists are drowning out local California governments,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 14)
This article, along with earlier coverage of increasingly contentious school board/city council meetings and the deep dive into a hate group masquerading as a church, show us the value and necessity of local investigative journalism.
This coordinated effort, thoroughly steeped in conspiracy theories and disconnected from reality, will continue to press their brand of bullying and intimidation because it works. They are, as one article stated, chaos agents whose grandstanding is designed to disrupt the work of our officials, destroy their resolve and dissuade future office holders from serving. There’s a fine line between free speech and hate speech. By continuing to allow these groups to sow fear and suspicion, and to bully and intimidate, we risk these extremists becoming the last people standing. That’s on all of us.
Barbara Smith
Auburn
Destructive behavior
“Angry, violent, toxic: How extremists are drowning out local California governments,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 14)
Thank you for bringing to light the disturbing phenomenon of violence toward civic leaders including school board members and municipal supervisors. There is and always has been a process for addressing and selecting civic leaders: elections and public meetings. Parents can and have organized to influence and pressure public policy.
But what we’ve now seen is something new: Toxic Facebook sites like Reopen CA schools, along with enthusiastic support from opportunistic politicians like Kevin Kiley, are encouraging destructive behavior. Rallying cries to show up at meetings, pitchforks ready, and recall board members en masse are posted regularly. Did some school board members turn a deaf ear to frustrated parents during COVID? No doubt. This, however, is a toxic stew of angst over vaccines, masks and critical race theory (though schools don’t teach it). It’s simply bad behavior at best and violent threats at worst excused as patriotic righteousness.
Rebecca Golling
Loomis
Change agent
“‘These are all Section 8’: North Sacramento councilman’s answer to poverty is wealth,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 14)
The article says Loloee pursues policy based on “an emotional desire to erase evidence of poverty from his district.” What Loloee actually expressed was a desire to persuade landlords to clean up their properties in an apparently heartfelt aspiration to uplift those of his constituents, especially children, who live in and walk by low-income housing.
The article also says: “The notion that solely increasing the housing…supply will address affordability is a fantasy…” What Loloee proposed is the common sense idea that a balance of different income level housing will benefit the entire community of North Sacramento. Loloee apparently did not say “wealth” is the answer. North Sacramento has suffered from poverty and associated problems for decades. Only housing people does not work. It seems Loloee can be a “change agent” and his colleagues and The Bee should listen to him.
Brian Powers
Sacramento
Wasted knowledge
“There are opportunists and scoundrels in Sacramento. And then there is Kevin Kiley,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 14)
Rocklin Republican Assemblyman Kevin Kiley is an exact duplicate of the likes of Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley. All of the above state that they “believe” that former President Trump rightfully won the election; that we shouldn’t have mask mandates; and are against the COVID vaccination even though it has been proven to save lives. All three have graduated from some of the most prestigious colleges in the U.S. and then went on to get a law degree, but haven’t used any of the knowledge they received in college to even have a basic understanding of how our elections work.
Janet Bain
Roseville
Not enough
“‘Watered-down hope’: Experts wanted more from climate pact,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 16)
Congratulations to the almost 200 countries who signed the final COP26 agreement. This is good, but it’s not enough. To reach Biden’s goal of a 50% cut to our 2005 greenhouse gas emissions levels by 2030 we need more. We need leadership from Padilla, Feinstein, Bera and Matsui to jump-start emissions reductions in the Build Back Better Act. We need a fee on corporate carbon pollution. It’s the way to get the job done!
Earl William Sanders
Sacramento
Graceful retirement
“California Rep. Jackie Speier won’t run for re-election. What it means for Democrats,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 16)
Congresswoman Speier’s retirement has absolutely zero impact on Democratic control of the House of Representatives. Speier served her district with distinction. While her retirement in her 70s is noteworthy, this isn’t partisan drama. To the contrary, Speier graciously now offers leadership opportunities to a new generation of younger Democrats. There will be an intensely-contested primary to succeed her, which is a compliment to her exemplary record of community service. Speier has earned the right to be thanked without questioning her motives for embracing a graceful retirement.
Chris Stampolis
Santa Clara