Kevin Kiley is too focused on battle with Newsom to think of his constituents | Opinion

Kiley wins, constituents lose

“Kevin Kiley scores win against longtime nemesis Gavin Newsom,” (sacbee.com, May 22)

The idea that Kevin Kiley “won” in his ongoing battle against his nemesis, Gov. Gavin Newsom, is as disturbing as it is illuminating. With his relentless pursuit to demonize Newsom through social media and legislative initiatives, Kiley shows that the politics of retribution are not limited to the executive branch.

But who are the winners here? Not Californians who need to breathe clean air. Not businesses connected to the electric vehicle industry. Not the voters of the third Congressional district, who have a right to expect their elected representative to pay attention to their needs instead of engaging in a years-long crusade against a fellow politician.

Those who pay attention to Kiley’s words and actions know this will not be the last time he misuses his public office for political gamesmanship. When an elected official uses their office as a weapon for revenge, we all lose.

Barbara Smith

Auburn

Protect trans students

“California updates track meet rules after Trump threat,” (sacbee.com, May 27)

California state law correctly protects the rights of all public school students, including trans students, to be free from discrimination while participating in school-sponsored activities.

To the extent that the President of the United States and California State School Superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw, who is running on an anti-trans platform, think they have the power to restrict California’s students simply because they don’t like our non-discrimination laws, it just goes to show what despicable bullies they truly are.

The 16-year-old trans student and her mother, who are now caught in the eye of this storm, are real-life heroines for not only standing up to the bullies holding positions of power in federal and local government, but also to hate-mongering individuals screaming at them from the track meet stands.

Like the state of Maine, I have no doubt that Attorney General Rob Bonta will legally challenge any unlawful action taken by the federal government against California and our students.

Wendi Ross

Roseville

Jewish reality in America

“A Sacramento rabbi speaks out about rising antisemitism,” (sacbee.com, May 24)

Rabbi Reuven Taff expressed the painful reality of violent hate crimes Jewish people are experiencing at schools, synagogues, and Jewish communal facilities, like the Jewish museum in Washington, D.C.

Callous indifference appears to be mounting amid expressions of bigotry and discrimination against Jews. Anti-Jewish sentiment is widespread in America, and it is causing immense harm to Jewish Americans as individuals, as families, and as a community. People of conscience need to step up as allies and speak out in defense of freedom, equality and safety for Jews and in defense of the rights and welfare of Americans of all backgrounds and identities.

Noam Schimmel

Lecturer, UC Berkeley

A good defeat

“US Senate votes to overturn California bid to ban gasoline-powered vehicles,” (sacbee.com, May 22)

Congratulations to Congress for blocking California’s unprecedented and short-sighted attempt to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035. In a stunning defeat for Gov. Gavin Newsom, this move restores some policy sanity to the once “Golden State.”

In a state leading the nation in poverty, with some of the highest costs of living, Newsom seems determined to remake the state into a haven for only the wealthy.

Michael Pruden

Sacramento

A fix that doesn’t deliver

“California waives the rules for wildfire rebuilding projects,” (sacbee.com, Jan. 29)

Safeguarding communities from wildfires is imperative, but the Fix Our Forests Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla, isn’t the answer.

The bill ignores decades of science-backed research and promotes reckless backcountry logging that fails to keep people or communities safer. It doesn’t mitigate fire behavior in extreme wind-driven wildfires. It may even worsen fire risk because forest floors will experience increased exposure to the sun’s drying heat, and windbreaks will be lost.

We deserve legislation that protects forests and provides real defense against wildfires, not the faux fix of this bill.

Jennifer Normoyle

Hillsborough