Sac Bee readers react to Rocklin City Council race, Measure A, Hurricane Ian

Rocklin’s well-being

“Rocklin voters should put Dave Bass on City Council,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 21)

Rocklin has enjoyed several decades of political stability, marked by deliberative, fiscally conservative and responsive elected officials. I am endorsing the incumbent candidates Bill Halldin and Jill Gayaldo for the four-year term and David Bass for the two-year term. Bill and Jill helped guide Rocklin through the pandemic.Bass’ experience as a Rocklin planning commissioner will be an asset to the city. His background as a lawyer, deputy district attorney and deputy attorney general makes him well-suited for the Rocklin City Council’s tradition of effective policy choices made in an environment of proper civic discourse, decorum and fact-based information. Rocklin voters have never stood for vitriol, disinformation or contentious discourse.

I have nothing but high expectations for Rocklin going forward.

Carlos A. Urrutia

Former Rocklin city manager

Sacramento

Protect city values

“Rocklin voters should put Dave Bass on City Council,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 21)

No election in Rocklin has worried me about my home’s resale value until now. Most Rocklin home sales are to Bay Area people relocating. Why Rocklin? Our proximity, vast parks, high educational level and our great schools. Retirees know good schools support property values.

But the Rocklin school board has been crippled by right-wing, evangelical fear mongers. This election could make it worse — news of instability travels fast. Our stable city council could turn into a circus by someone who has never much identified with Rocklin.

Rocklin residents must carefully examine qualifications and candidates’ focus.

Roger S. Peterson

Rocklin

No on Measure A

“Sacramento CA ballot measure threatens light rail future,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 15)

Reducing parking requirements for housing near transit encourages infill housing. Sacramento must build more infill to meet housing needs, revitalize our urban areas and address climate change.

Unlike Assembly Bill 2097, Measure A (the 40 year sales tax increase) sends us in the wrong direction — away from infill and toward sprawl development which produces not only more expensive housing, but more traffic and poor air quality. It’s a recipe for climate disaster.

Check the facts: Measure A was placed on the ballot by wealthy developers who want county taxpayers to spend the next 40 years paying for new roads, interchanges and freeways so they can build on greenfields and working lands. The same construction jobs proponents of Measure A promise can be generated through infill by putting resources toward infrastructure to support the revitalization of neighborhoods close to transportation, commerce and jobs.

Jill Peterson

Carmichael

Sustainable future

“Sacramento CA ballot measure threatens light rail future,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 15)

Please help reject Measure A on the local ballot. As Yousef Baig wrote, Measure A will not only do little to combat climate change and improve air quality, it will make the long-term future of our light rail network less viable. Proposed and financed by a collection of greenfield developers, Measure A is pretending to address mass transit funding and inequities in our transportation system but, in reality, it will open up new areas for massive suburban sprawl to enrich those developers.

We must invest in increasing housing density and thereby build ridership for our light rail system to make it financially sustainable for the future.

Jordan Lang

Sacramento

Climate progress

“Ian swamps southwest Florida, trapping people in homes,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 28)

A warming of Caribbean waters caused by climate change has turbocharged Hurricane Ian, increasing its destructive power.

Climate change is a global problem. American leadership is required to mobilize global action, but that requires bipartisan support. Today, the Republican Party refuses to support transformative efforts to deal with climate change.

Voters must send a message to the Republican party this election season. Republicans should heed that message and join Democrats in passing transformative climate change legislation.

Harold Ferber

Elk Grove

Praying for victims

“Former Sacramento priest accused of child sexual abuse,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 24)

As a member of the Catholic community in Sacramento, I am completely disgusted by how a priest can be so inhumane. For as long as I can remember, I’ve participated in my church believing that the priest who led it was a good person. I can’t imagine how the victims of Roberto Jaramillo must’ve felt when they were betrayed by someone who was so respected in the Catholic community.

A priest should be someone you can trust. I’m sending prayers to the victims who had to keep quiet for so long.

Evelyn Romo Limon

Sacramento

Feeling used

“Biden backs CA UFW election bill as Newsom considers signing,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 9)

Two months ago Jill Biden compared Latinos to breakfast tacos in one of her speeches. This incident alone demonstrates that the Biden administration does not understand the Latino community.

Despite this lack of understanding, Biden seems to expect our support. This is a frustrating but common trend in the Democratic Party. Democrats expect the support of minority communities even when they fail to keep their campaign promises or address issues that affect our communities. Democrats actually need to earn our support.

I am happy to see Biden reaching out to the Latino community and focusing more on the issues that are important to us, but I have to wonder if he will keep this up after the midterms are over.

Liana Macias

Sacramento