Sacramento Bee readers react to Roe v. Wade ruling, Loloee’s residence and carbon capture

Police state

“High court’s abortion reversal makes women second class citizens,” (sacbee.com, June 24)

By overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court is spearheading the United States’ descent into theocratic autocracy. Criminalizing women based on the belief that a fetus has a soul is a gross violation of First Amendment protections against state-imposed religion.

Worse, this decision violates the 13th and 14th Amendments. If women’s bodies belong to the state, they are being forced into a form of servitude. If women can be criminalized by Supreme Court decree, who’s next? This is how democratic institutions can be transformed into agents of police state terrorism.

We are still in the midst of a slow-motion coup that goes well beyond Trump’s insurrection.

Martha J. Lewis

West Sacramento

Welcome to the past

“Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade; states can ban abortion,” (sacbee.com, June 25)

It’s official: The U.S. is now a theocracy.

This Fourth of July should not be a day of celebration but rather a day of mourning, because the Supreme Court of the United States, with its abortion ruling, has declared that we are no longer a democracy. We are now ruled by a minority of religious extremists. According to Justice Clarence Thomas, there will be more rights that will be reversed if he has his way. Welcome to the past.

Powell Svendsen

Rancho Murieta

SCOTUS disaster

“Jews overwhelming support abortion rights; overturning Roe violates my religious freedom,” (sacbee.com, June 25)

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization does more than violate religious freedom; it violates the right to privacy. In addition, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the court “should reconsider” past rulings codifying rights to contraception and same-sex marriage.

Similarly, the gun ruling — which likely means that more Californians will be allowed to carry firearms in public — shows the court’s absolute detachment from reality. In the ruling, the majority indicates that protections are for “arms suited for self-defense.” It seems, then, that assault weapons, created and manufactured as offensive weapons with the express design to kill, are merely considered self-defense.

Bob Eason

Roseville

Loloee must resign

“Feds sue Sacramento councilman for threatening to deport employees helping investigators,” (sacbee.com, June 24)

I am a resident of Sacramento’s 2nd City Council District. I usually find the idea of calling for public officials to resign ridiculous, as they face unique pressures and often make complex policy decisions that would make most of us cringe. It is not an easy job. However, in light of The Bee’s recent articles pertaining to Councilman Sean Loloee, I must now break with my policy and call for him to resign.

Per recent articles in The Bee, it appears he does not live in his district and that his businesses, which are located in District 2, are being investigated for allegedly exploiting and cheating workers, threatening immigrants and exposing child workers to industrial hazards.

That is not what we stand for in this district. He should vacate his seat.

Tim Smith

Sacramento

Worth investment

“Which Sacramento neighborhood or suburb is right for you?” (sacbee.com, June 23)

This article failed to include the north county towns of Rio Linda and Elverta. It’s not the first time we’ve been excluded.

The only media figure who didn’t ignore us was Rush Limbaugh — and not in a good way. He characterized our community as sketchy and blighted, and referred to us as lazy, drug-addicted, uneducated, ignorant rednecks. In the absence of quality media coverage, people are left to rely on stereotypes like these. Rio Linda and Elverta are beautiful places to live, with a small-town, community-oriented, rural feel. We have our problems, however. When your community is repeatedly disparaged and ignored, what do you expect to happen?

Community problems stem from community disinvestment and long-standing neglect. Rio Linda and Elverta are absolutely worth the investment.

Gayle E. Pitman

Rio Linda

Demand change

“Don’t be fooled, California. Why the fossil fuel industry promotes carbon capture policies.” (sacbee.com, June 21)

This article draws attention to the fossil fuel industry’s false promotion of carbon capture to combat climate change, a ploy to deflect our attention from what fossil fuel companies should be doing: making a speedy transition to clean energy. Carbon capture has a role in mitigating climate change, but it’s a minor one.

Since fossil fuel companies are reluctant to change, the environmental organization Third Act is mobilizing senior citizens to put pressure on the four largest U.S. banks that continue to fund the fossil fuel industry. Visit Third Act’s website and sign our pledge to take action. Don’t be fooled by the promise of carbon capture. Fossil fuel companies continue to focus on profits, not the future of our planet.

Mahendra Ranchod

Palo Alto

Meadowview youth

“Sacramento barely invests in its youth. Meadowview sports complex a chance to change that,” (sacbee.com, June 26)

I agree with Yousef Baig’s acclaim for the proposed Meadowview sports complex, but as he states, “a broader community plan” has to go along with the physical sports complex. Specifically, social infrastructure is needed to ensure that the community’s youths can effectively use and benefit from the complex. That should include organizations to recruit, coach, train and support local kids in sports activities.

Perhaps the city can fund existing sports clubs or other nonprofit organizations to recruit and deliver training and game opportunities to kids in Meadowview neighborhoods.

Jordan Lang

Sacramento