Gov. Newsom could step up to be the leader California needs. Instead, he made a podcast | Opinion
Newsom’s pandering podcast
“Newsom breaks calls trans athletes in girls sports unfair,” (sacbee.com, March 6)
I implore Gov. Gavin Newsom to stop trying to appease Republicans and MAGA supporters while maneuvering for his next role in politics. Walking back his positions and then hoping the MAGA crowd will adhere to the norms of democratic governance is not helping.
Instead, he could use his podcast — as it is not a government platform — to interview other like-minded governors and create a response to Project 2025 and a plan to mitigate its impact. We need him to build roadblocks to the current anti-democratic agenda.
There are thousands of us searching for a leader who will work to stop this unconstitutional administration. Newsom could be that leader if he only stepped up to what this moment required.
Suzanne Flint
Sacramento
Going backwards
“Newsom isn’t Trump. His state worker return-to-office order is huge for Sacramento | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, March 3)
As a local resident, taxpayer and state employee union leader, I was disappointed by this fawning take on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order doubling state employees’ weekly in-office hours from two days to four starting July 1. The piece needed less provincialism and more skepticism.
This column echoes an unproven assertion that dialing down remote work “supercharges the downtown residential market by thousands of area residents.” In other words, it’s OK for the statewide government to retreat further from forward-thinking policy — one with documented benefits to the environment, taxpayers and the state employees who serve them — because downtown Sacramento’s property values and nightlife might benefit.
We must consider why Newsom, who once wanted to make telework permanent and even wrote a 2013 book about government innovation, has decided it’s time to go backward.
Steve Lee
President, Professional Engineers in California Government
Freedom of expression
“Mahmoud Khalil arrest: Bay Area critics say detention of pro-Palestinian activist is ‘a move toward fascism’,” (sacbee.com, March 11)
Kahlil has not broken any law or committed any crime. Instead, he was arrested and detained for expressing an opinion that the Trump administration doesn’t like.
Our Constitution guarantees people the freedom to express their opinions, however unpopular. Although it represents an extraordinary and frightening breach of basic American freedoms, without widespread outrage and opposition Khalil’s arrest for expressing his First Amendment rights risks becoming the new normal.
Laurie Litman
Sacramento
Kiley’s excuses
“Congressman Kevin Kiley works for Musk, not Californians,” (sacbee.com, March 2)
Claims by Representative Kevin Kiley and the GOP that their constituents prefer “tele-town hall” meetings are a complete smoke screen by Republicans to avoid facing their constituents and answering some hard questions.
Kiley claims this is what his constituents want, especially elderly constituents. This is completely untrue. I am elderly — 65 years old — and most of the protesters outside his office this past Tuesday were in their 60s. We want a face-to-face town hall meeting. Kiley needs to stop being a coward and face his constituents.
Patricia Wallen
Auburn
Dangerous leaders
“Trump and Zelensky hold tense Oval Office meeting,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 28)
To say I’m embarrassed by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance’s actions is an understatement, but their alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin is a danger to us all.
Bill Martin
Quincy
This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 6:00 AM.