Unemployment, Katehi, RT chief, Sanders

Jobless rates don’t reflect reality

Re “Jobless rates in state, region hit 9-year lows” (Page 1A, June 18): There are many levels of the unemployment statistics that, if the truth were to be analyzed, do not match the reported statistics.

The statistics do not reflect our household. One person was laid off in 2009, hasn’t been able to find employment and is no longer looking. Another lost employment a year ago and has not found replacement employment, either. Again, off the radar. Another person graduated from high school this year and found employment giving him a maximum of eight hours per week, if he is lucky. He is now counted as being employed.

A friend of his was hired at a different place, promised 20 hours of work and is lucky to work four hours per week. Again, the statistics consider him employed. I also have more than one friend laid off recently, and they have been unable to find employment.

Katehi has sense of entitlement

Re “Katehi refuses to turn over electronics to investigators” (Local, June 21): As a retired state worker, I was well aware while working for the state that all electronics provided by the state were not to be used for personal business and were the property of the state.

As UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi refuses to return her electronics to the state, she seems to have a sense of entitlement and is exempt from rules, regulations and laws. As a taxpayer, I’m fed up with public servants that appear to be serving themselves instead of the public.

Golden parachute won’t help RT

Re “Will a golden parachute sink RT?” (Insight, Foon Rhee, June 21): Good job on exposing the outrageous retirement benefit to Mike Wiley in order to ease him out of the top job he has held since 2007. Not only will I not vote for a sales tax increase to bail out RT, I will advocate for a recall of City Councilman Jay Schenirer.

RT will not improve its service, safety or cleanliness until the all the RT board members are removed for signing off on Wiley’s rocket to riches.

Tobacco war impacts who?

Re “State pushing back against tobacco” (Insight, June 20): In reading this article I searched for those that would be affected by the five bills that passed the Legislature. It would be those with less influence, because they can’t afford a lobbyist or political donations.

One bill raises the smoking age to 21, unless you are in the military. Serve your country in the military and you can have a smoke. Serve your country in Peace Corps or going to college, you don’t count.

And now a measure to raise the cigarette tax may make the fall ballot. Who will be paying the higher prices? Those in the lower-income levels. So any increase affects them more.

So, who is this tobacco war against?

Low-income housing needed

Re “Details, details on city railyard plan” (Editorials, June 16): The Sacramento Bee’s editorial board wisely questions only 221 affordable housing units in up to 10,000 homes for the Sacramento downtown railyard. The Bee’s editorial board should help the new mayor, Darrell Steinberg, and the city manager change failed thinking and developers’ grip. Support affordable housing; fight ineffective, inequitable, segregated public affordable housing.

Sanders, it’s time to give it up

Re “A sign that Sanders is still in race: Secret Service detail” (Insight, June 20): Sen. Bernie Sanders must have his head in the sand, with his attitude about spending taxpayer money. He needs to discontinue his Secret Service detail.

Stick a fork in it, Bernie, you’re done.

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Unemployment, Katehi, RT chief, Sanders."