Letters: Scott Jones, Kevin de León, cap-and-trade

Scott Jones should drop his appeal

Re “The high cost of ‘good old boy’ management” (Editorials, May 20): Given that the chances for success of an appeal of the $3.6 million verdict are slim at best, I was appalled to learn that Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones declared he would appeal the jury’s decision in the workplace retaliation lawsuit he lost.

But why not give it a shot, Sheriff Jones. It is not your money. It’s taxpayers’ money.

The correct response would have been: “The jury evaluated the evidence and made its decision. We will take this as a learning moment and use it to improve our behavior.”

But that would have been too humble. I’m no fan of Ami Bera, and have never voted for a Democrat. But I don’t believe Scott Jones’ fiscal irresponsibility is what is needed.

Jones’ plaintiffs had a thin case

The he-said-she-said of the suit against the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department leaves the reader guessing the truth. But one of Lt. Annica Hagadorn’s primary reasons for her suit against the Sheriff’s Department was a transfer from her assignment to a post miles away in Elk Grove. That takes the wind out of her sails. I’m surprised the court bought it.

Employment with Sacramento County comes with a responsibility to take assignments anywhere in the county when the need arises. Thousands of employees have been similarly reassigned over the years. It’s remarkable that her complaint made it into the proceedings in the first place.

Government is too quick to take rights

Re “Politicians threaten our rights” (Dan Walters, May 20): Dan Walters is right on when he says that our elected officials are threatening our constitutional rights. California has hundreds of gun laws and not one of them has done anything to stop criminals from getting and using guns.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León says we must not stand by while we experience this horrific violence. This isn’t Iraq.

The only thing de León is accomplishing is to take away more of the law-abiding citizens’ rights. I hope sportsmen, Democrat or Republican, remember these politicians when they come up for re-election.

Let’s end war on personal rights

Dan Walters captured the essence of the political climate in California. Too many behaviors are considered not politically correct, like driving a gasoline-powered car, or cutting down a tree.

The morally corrupt Legislature is not remotely concerned about the majority of this state’s citizens. We are asked to pay higher fees to provide subsidies for people who will not behave like grown-ups.

Banning guns and legalizing marijuana – that’s a good one. They cannot even regulate its so-called medical use.

Cap-and-trade is an illegal tax

Re “Cap-trade revenue could drop” (Dan Walters, May 18): If the California Air Resources Board were to show quantifiable reductions in greenhouse gases, businesses – and those paying 11 cents more at the pump – would be less critical of their cap-and-trade auction program’s legality.

Yet ARB continues to generate billions when auctioning emissions and the programs they spend it on have yet to produce measurable reductions. Assembly Bill 32, the landmark legislation that gave ARB authorization to create a cap-and-trade program, never passed the Legislature with a two-thirds vote, as all tax increases must.

ARB is using the money in an ineffective manner, all at the cost of hard-working Californians. If ARB wants to collect and spend revenue from the auction program in a legal manner, the Legislature must go back and pass it with a two-thirds vote.

This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Letters: Scott Jones, Kevin de León, cap-and-trade."