‘Unfit to continue’: Get Howard Chan out of Sacramento City Hall now | Opinion

Get Chan out of Sacramento City Hall

“Exclusive: Ex-Sacramento city manager hired a lawyer, charged taxpayers the fees,” (sacbee.com, April 1)

Recent Bee articles document — once again — that former City Manager Howard Chan needs to resign from his position as assistant city manager immediately.

While it was former Mayor Darrell Steinberg and former city council members who allowed Chan in the door in the first place and then capitulated to virtually all of his salary demands, it is clear that our current mayor and city council is — thus far — unable to reign in Chan’s poor decisions, including his chummy, ill-advised, expensive lunches with supplicants, supporters and potential land buyers. Relying on personal relationships to hang on to his power and excessive remuneration, as well as his obvious disdain for his employers, make him unfit to continue in any role at city hall.

That Sacramento taxpayers have to pay his salary in light of his continued bad judgment and disregard for transparency is unacceptable.

Bill Motmans

Sacramento

Make polluters pay

“Extreme heat cost California nearly $8 billion over last decade,” (sacbee.com, July 9, 2024)

My dad and brother spent their lives working in the oil fields in Drumright, Oklal. Both died of some form of cancer at ages 63 and 47. Lagoons of crude were stored in open dirt pits, releasing huge quantities of benzene and other hazardous chemicals into the soil and air.

Our refinery workers and their neighbors breathe similarly hazardous air. Regular operations, accidental spills, explosions, fires and leaks all release toxic pollutants. Passing the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund legislation (Senate Bill 684 and Assembly Bill 1243) will assess fees on the largest fossil fuel polluters for their share of the damage their products have caused.

Failure to pass this bill means California taxpayers will continue to pay while the oil companies continue to rake in enormous profits.

Carol Byram

Walnut Creek

Kiley needs to show up

“Many constituents couldn’t join Kiley’s packed tele-town hall,” (sacbee.com, March 17)

Congressman Kevin Kiley has many ways to speak to his constituents, including livestreaming on his active social media accounts. Yet, for this town hall, he chose to limit interaction to telephone only. Predictably, the lines filled within minutes. I and many other constituents were unable to participate.

This is not coincidental. By restricting town halls to a platform with severe capacity limitations, the congressman effectively filters which voices are heard. A truly constituent-focused representative would employ multiple platforms to maximize participation, not restrict it. To purposefully choose a communication method that inevitably leaves many out of the process is not just disappointing, it is a strategic choice.

Politics may feel like a game sometimes, but the representation of our community is not. If Kiley is proud of the job he is doing, then he has no reason to be scared of meeting us face to face and/or in real time.

Neva Parker

Roseville

Secular health care

“Mercy Hospital to expand in Folsom,” (sacbee.com, June 1, 2015)

I recently visited Mercy Hospital of Folsom and was struck by the number of crucifixes and other religious symbols displayed throughout the facility, including in patient care areas.

While the hospital is part of a Catholic health system, it receives tens of millions of dollars in public funding through Medicare and Medi-Cal. In that context, the religious displays raise concerns. Patients often have little choice in where they receive care, and no one should feel excluded or uncomfortable in a publicly funded medical setting.

I have submitted formal concerns and am asking Mercy Folsom to consider how these displays affect non-Christian patients and whether they are appropriate for a diverse community. Religious identity is a right, and so is the right to unbiased, respectful medical care in institutions supported by public money.

John Machado

Folsom

Wrong approach

“California Democrats were called ‘soft’ on sex trafficking. This could make it worse | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, March 25)

At a time when the rights of LGBTQ+ youth, especially transgender youth, are under attack, California lawmakers must do everything possible to stand up for these individuals. The last thing California should be doing is finding ways to criminalize them, which is why I completely agree with opinion writer Robin Epley in calling for the rejection of Assemblymember Maggy Krell’s Assembly Bill 379.

The bill would expose older teens, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, to felony prosecution because laws regarding underage sexual activity have historically and disproportionately been used in situations involving two teens close in age in a gay or lesbian relationship (often because disapproving parents call the police). The same could occur here.

We need to protect kids from exploitation, but AB 379 is not the right approach.

Mercy Gray

Oakland