California forum letters: Bee readers take on single-payer healthcare, city’s climate goal

People vs. cars

“Gavin Newsom seeks to reclaim California’s status as climate change leader in his budget,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 11)

Gas-fueled vehicles cause 56% of Sacramento’s greenhouse gas emissions. Our air is the sixth worst in the country. Electric vehicles alone won’t solve it. Walking, alking, biking, and shared transit will also reduce emissions and lead to healthier lifestyles, increased economic activity, reduced traffic and equity for those who don’t have access or the ability to drive. The Sacramento City Council declared a climate emergency and committed to carbon neutrality by 2045. On Feb. 8, the council will hold a live-streamed workshop on climate and transportation. We all need to participate to make sure Sacramento starts prioritizing people over cars. Consider joining the workshop: www.cityofsacramento.org/climateaction

Anne Stausboll, chair of Mayors’ Commission on Climate Change

Sacramento

Future generations

“TV ads and ballot initiatives: How solar power became a hot California political issue,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 29)

As a young adult without solar, I am motived by climate change to advocate for protect solar when the .Public Utilities Commission considers this imporant issue in May. The biggest concern of my generation is climate change. Gov. Gavin Newsom must act in the best interest of not only solar owners but also future generations.l. He has the opportunity to stand on the right side of California history — to protect our beautiful state and ensure a habitable planet for future generations.

Sarah Hunkins

Sacramento

Volunteer’s plea

“American River advocates demand removal of homeless camps in appeal to Sacramento leaders,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 27)

I’ve been a Mercy Pedaler serving the unhoused for three years and am also involved with the Sacramento Area Creeks Council and Sacramento Picks It Up, a marvelous countywide volunteer trash removal group. Service to the unhoused and wetlands are mutually inclusive — both are threatened by environments not of their making. In spring of 2020, the county and city received a combined $75 million from the CARES Act, earmarked for homeless housing. Yet the unhoused remain on wetlands and streets, subject to freezing temperatures and suffocating heat. Sacramento’s wetland volunteers are overwhelmed by the amount and size of trash, replenished daily. Sacramento’s city and county need to assist these efforts by creating housing, tent and auto communities away from wetlands and by listening to the volunteers e in Sacramento County.

Kathy Stricklin

Sacramento

Rexroad hypocrisy

“Sacramento’s struggles with homelessness are a result of Mayor Steinberg’s failures,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 26)

Homelessness is an issue throughout California, and Mayor Darrell Steinberg is a vocal proponent for assisting the homeless. Sacramento has a weak mayor system — the city manager wields most of the power, not the mayor. Steinberg can’t force council members to follow his recommendations and the council and city manager have kicked the problem down the road. Matt Rexroad, as a former Yolo County supervisor, knows this. Despite Rexroad’s background in government, he fails to make suggestions on addressing the homelessness problem.

William Schmidt

Wilton

Hillsdale response

“A conspiracy-peddling college is coming to Placer County. That should scare us all,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 23)

In her op-ed attacking Hillsdale College, opinion writer Hannah Holzer accuses Hillsdale of being racist. Her evidence? Hillsdale defends “the principle of equality on which America was founded” rather than promoting critical race theory, which sorts people into competing racial groups. Founded by abolitionist preachers in 1844, Hillsdale’s charter prohibited discrimination based on race, sex or nationality. Holzer’s op-ed embarrasses your newspaper.

Larry P. Arnn

Hillsdale College, president

Bitter paradox

“Sacramento’s Collaborative Courts seek to help the mentally ill — not incarcerate them,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 29)

A bitter paradox is woven through the pages of last Sunday’s Bee. In Section A, Timell Brown, 34, who suffers from depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, endures homelessness — her only shelter is a tent under the freeway. She holds a housing voucher, but no landlord will rent to her. Meanwhile, in the Forum section, Shanie Phillips, 43, who suffered from schizophrenia, anxiety and depression and previously endured homelessness, is celebrated in Mental Health Court for her successful graduation from the program. She was provided “therapy, shelter and consistent medication and support.” The difference? Phillips committed a crime and was arrested; this unlocked a slew of benefits to turn her life around. Would a turn to criminal behavior solve all of Brown’s problems?

Patty A. Gray

Citrus Heights

Healthcare for all

“Single-payer healthcare hits a roadblock: California bill doesn’t have the votes,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 31)

Single-payer is in the California Democratic Party platform. Democrats have the supermajority here, yet they don’t have the votes? All Democratic representatives should be ashamed of themselves for putting the healthcare industry above the public. Everyone knows that our current healthcare system is broken. We pay the most in the world, yet we have no control over the coverage or cost. Doing nothing maintains the broken status quo and, in a pandemic, not having health care for all hurts all of us. As a nurse, I saw every day how my patients and even colleagues were hurt by our current system. Health care must be guaranteed for all.

Shirley Toy

Sacramento

This story was originally published February 6, 2022 at 5:00 AM.