Bee readers react to homeless death, Kings sportsmanship, Trump’s eligibility for office

Keep trying

“We let blind, mentally ill homeless man die in Vacaville,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 2)

As a former social worker and mobility instructor of blind persons, I can relate to Melinda Henneberger’s compassionate description of the miserable life led by James Rippee since he was injured in a 1987 crash. From her words, we can understand one man’s homelessness situation.

In the past, homelessness could have been manageable. Let’s keep trying.

Alvin Vopata

Antelope

Help for unhoused

“We let blind, mentally ill homeless man die in Vacaville,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 2)

It hurt my heart to hear of the passing of James Mark Rippee. I, along with several people from my church, go to a Manteca park and spend time with some of the homeless people there. I’ve realized after talking to many of them that there will never be one quick and easy solution to fix the homeless problem we have in California.

Even if we had numerous programs and policies, it still doesn’t take into consideration that some people choose to be homeless. One man I spoke with told me how he would rather live on the streets because at least he knew them. When he lived in a home, his mental illness got worse, so he ended up back on the streets again.

We need more mental health resources for the unhoused.

Angela Bell

Stockton

Lesson learned

“‘Worst decision of his life.’ Jan. 6 defendant from California seeks leniency at sentencing,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 2)

Rocklin resident Tommy Frederick Allan attempted to overturn a democratic election. He is now facing two years in prison — an extremely lenient sentence considering many people languish far longer in prison for crimes that are far less dangerous to society. Maybe Allan can spend his time in prison reading and learning the art of critical thinking so he is never again vulnerable to con artists again.

Peter Tiedemann

Roseville

Prison closure

“Gavin Newsom moves to shut a 3rd California state prison,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 6)

On the day the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors met to discuss local jail overcrowding, The Bee carried an article about the state’s closure of a third state prison. The article points out that closing prisons saves money, but what about the cost of early releases to local communities? When closing a facility, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation considers, among other things, “the state’s solution to prison overcrowding.”

What, exactly, is the solution? It would appear it is to close state facilities, and leave local municipalities to deal with the aftermath. Sacramento County supervisors need to send a message to the state that public safety is more important than merely saving CDCR dollars.

Bill Motmans

Sacramento

Dishonesty

“How CHP officers in overtime scandal beat fraud charges,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 5)

I am not sure how any of these California Highway Patrol officers can look any tax payer in the eyes and say it was appropriate to fraudulently record time they didn’t work. How can any court of law believe anything that these officers testify to when they committed timesheet fraud? What a sham inflicted on the citizens of California.

We’ve always been told ticket quotas don’t exist. Not only did this situation reveal that lie, but it also revealed that quotas were used to commit the fraudulent recording of time. Is this why we almost never see any CHP officers on the road? Have they met their quotas and then gone home?

Cliff Vose

Antelope

Blindly follow

“Donald Trump can’t be allowed to run for president again,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 7)

Trump’s rants have never been about saving democracy or saving America. They have always been about power and railing against any regulation, law, agency or person who doesn’t adhere to his warped view of right and wrong.

The problem is that a number of people support his need to lash out at any adversary, real or imagined. If the laws, the congress, the courts or people serving in official capacities are in the way of Trump or his supporters’ need for autocracy, the strategy is to eliminate all contrary views.

Instead of “Let’s go Brandon,” the more accurate slogan for these true believers would be “Let’s go Lemmings.”

Bob Eason

Roseville

Scheming

“Oil companies ghost state hearing on windfall profits tax,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 29)

Oil companies are paying to overturn climate legislation that protects public health and the environment. One example is paid petition gatherers deceiving voters by saying that their petition would lower gas prices when it actually overturns the law that prevents new oil drilling around schools and homes.

Hopefully the petition will fail, but putting it on the ballot delays implementing the law for two years. Let’s say no to Big Oil’s greed and yes to the public good by supporting the excess profits tax and not signing this oily petition.

Clair Brown

Richmond

Sportsmanship

“Haliburton cheered, Hield booed in Kings’ win over Pacers,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 2)

I was as proud as any Kings fans on the team’s win over the Pacers. But was it really necessary to boo Buddy Hield and cheer for Tyrese Haliburton? Both of these players gave it their best while members of the Kings, and I don’t think either one of them wanted to be traded. So why the nasty reception for Buddy?

I was very impressed by Hield’s reaction to the “boos” from fans: “I don’t hate on them. I wish them all the best of success.”

Now that’s class. I wish you much success, too, Buddy.

Kathy Andreis

El Dorado Hills