As federal health guidance falters, California is stepping up | Opinion
A reason for hope
“Newsom announces new public health initiative led by ousted CDC officials,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 15)
With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leading the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, our country’s international supremacy in medical science and public health has been destroyed. Funding for scientific research has been withdrawn, and science is supplanted by conspiracy theories.
But Gov. Gavin Newsom is hiring respected former leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An emerging 15-state “Governors’ Public Health Alliance” will provide guidance from actual scientific research on vaccines, medications, testing for dangerous new diseases and response coordination to health threats.
Becoming the first U.S. state to join the World Health Organization, California’s Health Alliances may rescue our country from becoming a second-rate scientific has-been.
Bruce Joffe
Piedmont
Kiley’s refusal to lead
“Rep. Kevin Kiley criticizes leaders as ACA subsidies lapse,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 19)
Rep. Kevin Kiley labels the House leadership a failure but refuses to change it, because doing so would “paralyze the House.” A day earlier, the GOP again failed to extend premium subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, passing a bill that won’t go anywhere in the Senate. Kiley neglects to mention that his own party has voted more than 70 times in the House to overturn the ACA.
He may say he’s disappointed by the lack of a solution, but Americans are devastated. There’s no better example of a paralyzed institution than a political party too fearful of losing its status to do what’s right. Kiley can lament the current situation and paint himself as a victim of partisanship, but he refuses to step up and lead.
Barbara V Smith
Auburn
Costs will rise
“Federal rule threatens immigrant truckers in California,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 19)
The vast majority of everything made, grown or sold in California moves by truck at some stage of the production and distribution process. Imagine the supply chain disruptions when thousands of truck drivers lose their licenses all at once as the state meekly complies with the Trump administration’s demand.
Get ready for the cost of everything to jump — if you can find it for sale at all.
Greg deGiere
Sacramento
Protect our wolves
“State curtails effort to find Sierra Valley juvenile wolves,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 16)
California exterminated its wolves once before. Now, after celebrating their hard-won return, the state has killed members of a fragile pack and is retreating from efforts to locate their orphaned pups. That is not wildlife stewardship — it is abandonment.
When conflict arises, the burden should not fall on animals still clawing their way back from extinction. Killing wolves and then scaling back searches for their young ignores both science and ethics. Wolves are a keystone species, not expendable nuisances, and California has a responsibility to manage coexistence proactively.
The solution is prevention: mandatory nonlethal deterrents, better land-use planning and full compensation programs funded before conflicts occur. Conservation requires resolve, especially when it is inconvenient. California must stop repeating the mistakes that erased wolves from our landscape once already.
Judie Mancuso
Founder, Social Compassion in Legislation
Every effort to find cubs
“State curtails effort to find Sierra Valley juvenile wolves,” (sacbee.com, Dec. 16)
I am very distressed by the news that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife “broke” this wolf pack in a careless, sloppy manner. They must make every effort to find these cubs, who may still be alive.
The department needs to take full responsibility for the mismanagement of this situation.
Kim Hanks
Sacramento
This story was originally published December 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM.