Don’t be fooled by Rep. Kevin Kiley’s desperate man-of-the-people rebrand | Opinion

Don’t be fooled by Kiley

“Kiley breaks with party lines while seeking re-election path,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 12)

Rep. Kevin Kiley’s recent media tour promoting his moderate, man-of-the-people stance lacks credibility.

Based on his voting record and social media posts, it is clear that he opposes the Affordable Care Act and efforts to improve it. He has consistently and reliably defended Republican policies that harm the same constituents he claims to support. Whether it is tariffs, cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or illegal military deployments in our cities, Kiley signed off on all of them.

When Trump demanded partisan redistricting, he was silent until it personally affected him. Now, as he attempts to salvage his job, he’s an outspoken critic of mid-decade redistricting.

Don’t be fooled by Kiley’s performance. If the wind changes, so will he.

Roy A Smith

Auburn

No moral compass

“California Republicans join vote to release Epstein files,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 18)

In September, I wrote to Rep. Kevin Kiley and called him a coward for voting “present” on a measure to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s exploitation of young girls.

I only recently received a response in which Kiley congratulated himself for speaking on the House floor in support of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed on Nov. 18. He claims he has consistently supported transparency. He says the victims and the American people deserve clear answers “so that we can confront the truth, pursue justice and move forward.”

Why didn’t he vote in favor of this transparency in September?

Rosalie Wohlfromm

Auburn

America’s train system is an embarrassment

“America is finally falling in love with Amtrak. The tracks can’t keep up,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 26)

Fifty-five years ago, in 1970, when my dad was stationed in Japan, my parents and I took a high-speed train from Tokyo to Osaka and back at 150 miles per hour for the World’s Fair. I can only imagine how incredulous Asian and European tourists must be when they come here and figure out that this country — the first to put a man on the moon — has such slow trains.

It should be an embarrassment to us all how primitive the rail system is here.

Don Knutson

Sacramento

Protect our housing needs

“Newsom suing Trump over planned federal cuts to housing,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 25)

As a California citizen, recent news regarding Sacramento programs facing federal housing cuts is extremely concerning. Sacramento cannot spare the price of losing housing security that thousands of citizens depend on.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to safeguard against these changes. If these measures go forward, it will undoubtedly displace over a thousand residents in Sacramento County alone, many of whom are seniors, families and people with disabilities.

This lawsuit isn’t just about fighting politics, it’s to ensure that Sacramento doesn’t regress.

Elsa Lock

Stockton

Preserve our environment

“A shocking decision by a federal judge leaves Sacramento at risk of flooding | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 26)

We applaud the decision by Judge Dena Coggins. We have lived along the American River for over 60 years and saw firsthand the flood of 1985, when the levees held fast. Since then, they have been reinforced with a deep slurry, and the overpasses were reinforced. The project purports to increase erosion control by removing trees, but trees are erosion control.

Coggins ruled in favor of preserving the natural landscape along the Lower American River, including at least 675 trees, some of which are heritage trees. Coggins wrote: “The river is designated for protection under both the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.”

We must continue to stand up for preserving our environment.

Douglas and Jonathan Grass

Sacramento

It’s my neighborhood, too

“Sacramento residents sue over Pocket river trail plan now,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 25)

The Sacramento River belongs to all of us. The few residents who have stymied bike and pedestrian access in the Pocket for decades don’t get to keep their private riverfront because of “security, noise, privacy.” These are not environmental impacts; it’s their convenience.

The rest of us want a contiguous trail along the levee so we don’t have to get onto dangerous surface streets.

Build the trail so we can enjoy a smooth, safe ride like the American River Parkway. This is my neighborhood, too, and the city agreed decades ago to finish this trail.

Theresa Lown

Sacramento

A fictional ceasefire

“2 Palestinian boys, further person killed in latest Gaza violence,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 29)

On Nov. 22, Israel carried out another airstrike on Gaza, killing more than 20 people and injuring dozens.

What kind of “ceasefire” conducts extrajudicial killings? This ceasefire appears to be a diplomatic fiction, maintained for political cover while military operations continue. They offer the language of peace with one hand, while the other guides a missile to its target.

Yumna Zahid Ali

Karachi, Pakistan

This story was originally published December 7, 2025 at 5:00 AM.