Gov. Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office order for state workers is unbelievable, unrealistic | Opinion

Newsom’s unrealistic order

“The return-to-office question on California state workers’ minds: ‘Why now?’” (sacbee.com, March 6)

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office order defies reality. Telework for state employees saves taxpayer money without negatively impacting the quantity or quality of work. Telework often improves performance by eliminating unnecessary commute time and reducing the distractions of an office environment, and it serves as a benefit that makes up for the below-market compensation offered to many state employees.

Cameron Goodman

Sacramento

PG&E’s mixed messages

“Plan to lower electric bills penalizes solar customers,” (sacbee.com, March 3)

It is incorrect to say that solar customers do not pay our fair share — we pay for the use of the grid to send additional electricity that we generate and for electricity that exceeds our capacity to produce.

We are getting mixed messages from PG&E and our governor: We are encouraged to conserve and not be wasteful, but then PG&E says they don’t make enough money because usage is down.

Molly Weingart

Woodland

Trump and Vance’s tantrum

“Trump and Zelensky hold tense Oval Office meeting,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 28)

Embarrassing is not a strong enough word to describe the treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by our president and vice president. Their behavior was vile and is certainly not the mark of the strong, confident, thoughtful leadership we should expect from individuals in our highest elected office.

At that moment, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance showed themselves to be nothing more than overgrown children throwing a massive tantrum. The damage these two have done to the U.S. is almost incalculable.

Shame on us for tolerating them.

Chris Payton Kimbrough

Sacramento

America’s greatness in question

“Trump and Zelensky hold tense Oval Office meeting,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 28)

We don’t need to be made great “again” because we’ve always been great. How? By helping Ukraine remain an independent democracy without demanding “payment” from that country’s

mineral resources; by helping Europe fight fascism in World War II and not demanding “payment” in return; and by sending funding and scientific research on HIV/AIDS to countries all over the world who need help.

We’ve always been great, but not so much now.

Melva Arditti

Sacramento

Effective tree management

“$24 million awarded to family of woman killed by falling tree at Davis park in 2021,” (sacbee.com, March 1)

Effective tree management is an elusive concept, and the practice is even more difficult to get right. I can’t help but think how far $24 million could have gone to develop an effective tree inventory and management program.

I used to manage the landscaping of San Diego’s Balboa Park in 1970. Trees are continuously growing, for better or for worse. It’s impossible to determine the instant a damaged or declining tree is going to fail.

Wayne Tyson

San Diego

A real change-maker

“Meet The Sacramento Bee’s Top 20 Black Change Makers,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 20)

Alan Rowe, founder of the United College Action Network, has been instrumental in making four-year college enrollment a reality for several students in Sacramento County’s community schools — some of the most challenged teens in our region.

Rowe is deserving of the Black Change Maker honor, and of having a public charter school named for him in Elk Grove: Alan Rowe College Preparatory.

Gregory Geeting

Sacramento