Letters: Drugged driving, Ashby’s tactics, Sanders’ socialism, Lukenbill’s arena

Pot will increase drugged driving

Re “Drugged driving a growing scourge on California roads” (Insight, April 9): Drugged driving is only going to worsen if California legalizes recreational marijuana. How many more people like these two young men in Auburn and a CHP officer have to become victims before we wake up?

Legislators and California voters, please use some common sense to stop the unnecessary deaths of innocent people by drugged drivers. Let’s not go down the same road as states that have legalized marijuana and created more opportunities for the senseless loss of life on our highways.

Voter looking for common sense

Re “Ashby picks a petty – and revealing – fight” (Editorials, April 7): Angelique Ashby held a press conference last week to once again explain why she got the crime rate in her district wrong. Initially, The Sacramento Bee reporter who showed up to cover the event was turned away. It turns out Ashby didn’t want The Bee in attendance because she thought she wouldn’t get a fair shake. Buck up, Ashby. The reporter was just doing his job when he reported your crime statistics were all wrong.

To me, the most important issue here is not the crime rate. It’s Ashby’s lack of judgment. I’d like my representative to be someone who questions statistics, requires proof and, most importantly, has the common sense to know when things just don’t add up.

Ashby continues her bullying

For Sacramento to be a great city, it would be good to have a positive campaign for mayor. Angelique Ashby did not have the facts she reported on crime and did not own up to it. I’m not surprised that the bullying Ashby has demonstrated on the dais continues, from her years on the council to blocking out a reporter.

Sanders shows the road to where?

Re “Sanders may be stronger for Dems than Clinton in general election” (Insight, April 9): David Lightman’s piece on Bernie Sanders’ appeal shows an alarming trend in American politics. Americans were once thought of as independent, resourceful and self-reliant. Among the younger generation, not so much anymore.

With Sanders, they seem enamored of the socialist lure of countries like Venezuela, Greece, Spain and Italy. If American schooling, Social Security and Obamacare are socialist, which one would you brag about?

Reliable scheduling is necessary

Re “Bill on schedules bad for business” (Viewpoints, April 6): Lon Hatamiya’s op-ed fails to acknowledge how inadequate notice of schedules hurts workers. The Reliable Scheduling Act of 2016 helps workers support their families, building on the momentum they’ve created for change at many companies.

“On call” and “just-in-time” schedules harm many low-paid workers in California. Many hourly workers suffer from one-sided relationships in which they are always on call, yet have no guarantee they will receive the paid hours they need to survive. Many of these workers can’t plan childcare, attend college or get a second job. The result is high turnover, reliance on public assistance and deepening inequality.

Memories differ on Lukenbill, Natomas

Re “It’s time Lukenbill got his full due” (Local, Marcos Breton, April 10): Odd how memories sometimes differ over time. The column portrays developer Gregg Lukenbill as a benefactor who brought a professional sports franchise to poor, sports-starved Sacramento.

My memory is that he wished to develop in Natomas but was blocked by then-mayor Ann Rudin on safety grounds due to flooding issues. He used public hysteria for professional sports to beat up on Rudin and push for an arena in Natomas, thereby prying open the area for development.

Kings no longer need blind worship

Re “Kings are still our team” (Letters, April 9): This letter reveals fan worship carried to extreme. The Kings are an underperforming product, especially with DeMarcus Cousins. Statistically focused and narcissistic players are antithetical to court success. Teamwork, including more passing and less dribbling, as displayed by the Golden State Warriors, is the new successful formula, plus a well-coached defense.

After 28 years and nearly $300 million committed to a downtown arena, fans have earned the right to be more critical of the Kings’ performance.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Letters: Drugged driving, Ashby’s tactics, Sanders’ socialism, Lukenbill’s arena."