Bee readers react to recent winter storms, Katie Porter’s senatorial campaign and inflation | Opinion

Natural solutions

“Sacramento, CA’s downed trees send a dying message,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 13)

As we emerge from this latest series of atmospheric rivers and lament the loss of Sacramento’s toppled trees, it’s easy to forget that we were on fire watch only a few short months ago. This seemingly relentless flood-after-fire cycle has come to define living in California. But it doesn’t have to, and those trees — and nature in general — can help.

Restoring and protecting nature is one of the most cost-effective ways to build a community’s resilience to climate change. Whether it’s restoring healthy forests to prevent the devastation of another Camp Fire or giving rivers the space they need to manage flooding, our forests, floodplains and other ecosystems act as buffers against natural hazards.

Investing in nature is climate-smart planning. By leveraging our natural ally, we can build resilient communities and protect homes, lives and nature in the process.

Deborah Glaser

Climate Resilient Communities Project Director, The Nature Conservancy

Sacramento

Porter for office

“I thought Rep. Katie Porter was different. Her disrespect for California says otherwise,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 12)

I’m bemused by this column chastising Congresswoman Katie Porter for announcing her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in the seat currently held by the sure-to-be-retiring Dianne Feinstein. Apparently, the author thinks it’s evil for Poter to have announced during our recent big rainstorms because it “disrespects” Californians.

Riddle me this: Who else better to hold the feet of insurance companies to the fire when they deny all the claims this storm is generating in California? The other potential candidates, including Adam Schiff, are furious Porter beat them to the punch and have generated the bizarre misconception that her announcement was somehow inappropriate.

Christine Craft

Sacramento

A changing world

“Disney, Apple and Google wrong to demand return to office,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 18)

I have read several articles in The Bee and elsewhere regarding working remotely. I spent the last decade of my career, in the early 2000s, working remotely — well before it became popular during the pandemic. And it was great!

I was never more productive than when I was home. Yes, I frequently turned on my computer at 11 p.m., or 4 a.m., for remote meetings, but I didn’t mind because I enjoyed my work and I was making money for the company.

In spite of my regular status reports that showed my productivity, toward the end I was asked to come into the office because I couldn’t be properly “supervised” remotely. Eventually, I quit. The world is changing, and employers need to recognize this.

Bill Child

Fair Oaks

Failures

“Newsom wants to hold someone accountable for California homelessness. Here’s a suggestion,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 15)

Here’s more of the same blame game regarding the homelessness problem. Gov. Gavin Newsom is finally taking a firm approach to a debacle that negatively impacts the housed more than the unhoused. This is at least a step in the right direction.

Does columnist Josh Gohlke really believe that spending billions of dollars on free housing is a solution? Many homeless individuals say they’re on the streets by choice. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and City Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela’s social experiment didn’t work. They’re in over their heads, and the rest of us are paying the price.

Monica Donnelly

Carmichael

No solution

“Gavin Newsom budget pushes homeless funding, accountability,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 11)

Billions of dollars have already been spent on California’s homelessness problem, yet it continues to get worse.

Gov. Gavin Newsom earmarked $1 billion to help local leaders address the problem, with the stipulation that “release of such funds would be dependent on results.” But leaders at all levels have already developed detailed goals and plans to no avail.

How are we supposed to get thousands of poor souls off the streets permanently?

Janet Quesenberry

Elk Grove

Give and take

“CA inflation relief check: debit card, direct deposit delays,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 13)

Once again, our fearless leaders are dangling the promise of “relief” from inflation with the extended scheduling of payments to those taxpayers who filed a tax return in 2020. The trouble with this is that they don’t give the entire story. Once you receive this payment, it becomes taxable income in the year you receive it.

It’s shameful that these facts are kept secret. Here we go again: Give with the right hand, and take away with the left.

Marie Reed

Sacramento

In debt

“US Treasury buys time for Biden and GOP on debt limit deal,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 18)

Why does the U.S. keep needing to raise the debt limit? Because the richest country in the history of the world has chosen not to raise enough revenue to pay its bills.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan cut the top marginal tax rate for the super wealthy in half. In the first 190 years of our existence, the national debt grew to $1 trillion. In the next 41 years, the debt has ballooned to $31 trillion.

Since 1981, wealth inequality has become a national disgrace and the cause of much political unrest. This has occurred because the super-wealthy political donor class has paid members of Congress to keep their taxes unfairly low.

From 1940 to 1981, when the super-wealthy paid their fair share of taxes, we won the Second World War, built the national highway system and sent a man to the moon. The super-wealthy must pay their fair share.

John McCarthy

Sacramento