Bee readers react to Dave Chappelle and Elon Musk, rooftop solar proposal, crop wars

Harmful messages

“Elon Musk, Dave Chappelle are truth tellers, get booed for it,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 14)

Claiming that Elon Musk’s directive to prosecute Dr. Anthony Fauci was just a truthful joke aimed at supposedly useless and draconian anti-COVID measures is an affront to the medical community, which fought to save lives based on historically and scientifically proven methods. Those who deliberately spread COVID while claiming individual liberty are to blame for the pandemic’s continued relevance. These people lack a sense of patriotic duty; they disregard the health consequences inflicted on others by their irresponsible behavior.

Musk’s hypocrisy is that he claims to be apolitical but consistently espouses misinformation to feed his narcissism and gain the adulation of the regressive crowd.

Amplifying reactionary propaganda has real-world consequences such as the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Daniel Rubinstein

Sacramento

Creative idea

“Gavin Newsom moves to shut a 3rd California state prison,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 7)

Seeing all the prisons that are being closed causes me to wonder if these buildings could be transformed into boarding houses for the homeless.

Let’s not put guards in the facilities. Instead, let’s staff them with monitors, drug counselors and mental health professionals and remove the bars, turning them into rooms with doors. That seems like a worthwhile alternative.

Rosemary Naves

Elk Grove

NIMBY defense

“Neighbor shows impact of homeless on Sacramento park, blames new shelter nearby,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 13)

The neighbors around the Outreach and Engagement Center are right to be concerned about their surroundings being degraded by homeless people’s activities. The descriptions of residents’ experiences are frightening yet predictable. These individuals are now living in constant stress caused by the deterioration of their safety, security and physical environment.

Here in my neighborhood in Upper Land Park, our lives are affected by the camps allowed to fester along X Street. Our neighbors on X are putting up with homeless people ruining their security and safety. Some have erected expensive iron fences. Businesses like Starbucks have closed, and our Target and Walgreens are a disaster, with rampant shoplifting and locked-up items.

Is it NIMBYism or self protection?

Theresa Lown

Sacramento

Fair elections

“How California ‘good government’ types handed Congress to bad-government Republicans,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 10)

We can’t go back to politicians drawing their own districts. Independent commissions are not the problem. It’s that these commissions are required to draw single-winner districts that represent only one party.

To end gerrymandering and provide a voice for urban Republicans and rural Democrats, we must stop drawing one-winner districts. How can these current maps be fair if nearly half of voters in a given district are losers in every election based simply on geography?

The Fair Representation Act calls for independent redistricting commissions in every state and multi-member districts that would give more voters a voice and make gerrymandering impossible, with no constitutional amendment required. Ask your congressional representative to co-sponsor the legislation.

Paula Lee

Sacramento

Crop wars

“Polarizing water head Tom Birmingham for Westlands to retire,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 7)

This story puts a face on this district’s destruction of the salmon that will soon become extinct in Northern California rivers. Agriculture is important — I get it. Anyone who eats has an interest in growing crops. But Westlands took too much water for farmers.

The largest crop category on Westlands’ farms is almonds. Nothing against nuts, but what are Californians going to miss more in the next decade, salmon or nuts?

Tod Bedrosian

Sacramento

Goodbye, Jones

“Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones exits with no future plans,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 9)

It’s shameful that The Bee has given Sheriff Scott Jones so much front-page print. He is nothing more than an egotistical, self-serving bully. Good riddance!

Sharon Scott

Sacramento

Wrong direction

“California’s new rooftop solar proposal is a disaster,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 30)

I got solar for my house three years ago. I’m not rich, so I had to finance it. Even with solar payments, I am saving a lot on my electric bill. I live on a very tight budget, so the savings really help.

I am very opposed to the California Public Utilities Commission’s proposed changes, which would make it more expensive for everyday people to put solar panels on their roofs. The PUC’s proposal is extreme, slashing the value of solar energy 75% overnight while boosting utility profits at the expense of the public.

In states that enacted similar cuts, solar adoptions dropped by half or more. That’s the wrong direction for California. Our state should be working to increase local solar and batteries for everyday people.

Judy Herring

Sonora

Will of the people

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

As a lawyer and a student of the U.S. Constitution, I find this essay deeply alarming. Only the American people can decide whether Donald Trump should be elected to the presidency again.

Our system does not let anyone (let alone a law professor from the far fringe of the political left) screen out candidates in advance. The will of the people governs in our democracy. I frankly fear for the future of the legal profession if this is what law professors teach students these days.

Minyao Wang

Staten Island, NY