California forum letters: Bee readers respond to inflation, homelessness, CalPERS

Better alternative

“Gasoline prices are inching down. Are other prices stabilizing in California?” (sacbee.com, April 21)

In 2021, President Biden successfully promoted, and congressional Democrats passed, the American Rescue Plan, which put cash money into nearly everyone’s bank account. While stores, offices and factories were shutting down due to COVID, Biden’s plan covered our lack of paychecks. Unfortunately, boosting consumer demand while production was down has caused inflation. But the alternative of people having no money for food and losing their homes would have been far worse.

Yes, the cost of gasoline is too high, thanks in part to price gouging by oil companies and Russia’s war in Ukraine. But Republicans continue to criticize without offering a positive alternative, while Democrats are working to solve our problems despite Republican obstruction.

Bruce Joffe

Piedmont

Gross city overreach

“He wanted to work on an old car in his yard. Now he owes $573K in Sacramento code violations,” (sacbee.com, April 13)

Kudos to Theresa Clift for shining a light on some of the menacing practices within our city. I believe these actions, to varying degrees, are far more common than most people realize. And it’s not just Code Enforcement (which is discretionary, by the way). There are other entities within the city that are equally corrupt and rarely held accountable.

The Department of Utilities came after us a few years back for simply questioning the charge for “supplemental irrigation” on our half acre property. This ultimately led to the loss of our home. The overreach of these agencies is common practice, but an exposé such as this just might help bring an end to it.

Melissa Andrews

Sacramento

Request for arts coverage

“Sacramento play ‘Pass Over’ shows Black men striving for prosperity in violent community,” (sacbee.com, April 14)

Many thanks to Marcus Smith for this play review. The local fine arts scene is blooming, but there’s hardly a word about it in The Bee. For arts organizations to build audiences, more publicity in the media is needed. There’s much more going on besides those events listed weekly in the calendar. Let’s have more coverage of Sacramento’s local arts scene.

Doris Beckert

Carmichael

CalPERS responds to critique

“CalPERS failed to fill Sacramento’s ‘hole in the ground’ — other than with public money,” (sacbee.com, April 15)

The Bee editorial on CalPERS’ decision to sell its Sacramento property is misinformed. The author wants the site to be developed yet criticizes a decision that achieves that goal.

CalPERS and two real estate companies worked to create a project to benefit Sacramento and meet CalPERS’ duty to maximize investment returns that deliver retirement security to 2 million members. We were fully invested in the transformation of the capital city, and we wanted it to succeed.

Unfortunately, despite this investment of time, expertise and resources, it became clear the best solution was selling the property to a developer who didn’t have our fiduciary requirements. The real estate market has changed because of new economic realities. Our decision to sell will ultimately help Sacramento achieve its downtown goals and respect CalPERS’ responsibility to public employees.

Marcie Frost

CalPERS, CEO

Sacramento

More support for unhoused

“Sacramento clears highly-visible homeless camp on Fair Oaks Boulevard. Was it legal?” (sacbee.com, April 12)

It’s heartbreaking to read about and see homeless camps being cleared, and unhoused people trying to survive with no support. Some of these individuals have no other option but to camp outside. Where is the support they are entitled to after these sweeps? Emergency shelters are not the answer; we need more affordable and transitional housing options, including wraparound services for long-term solutions.

I grew up in the Seavey Circle public housing neighborhood in Sacramento. We need to provide more protection and more tangible resources to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness. We need to treat them with more respect and dignity.

Sara Tran

Sacramento

Move away from gas

“Sacramento developer sues city — again — in push to build Curtis Park gas station,” (sacbee.com, April 20)

I’ve been reading for years that California is trying to end gas vehicles and encourage electric cars. The problem is that Gov. Gavin Newsom and others have done nothing to end the use of gas. There should be a moratorium on building any new gas stations anywhere in the state.

Recently, an ampm gas station and convenience store appeared on Elkhorn Boulevard. Who approved this? There are plenty of gas stations and convenience stores in Rio Linda. There’s no need for more. Government needs to act: No more gas stations.

Shari Baelfyr

Rio Linda

Sacramento can set example

“Pittsburgh to ban single-use plastic bags in April 2023,” (sacbee.com, April 13)

If Sacramentans decide to do something about plastic waste, we might inspire a good example and remediate an eyesore and crisis of strewn plastic bits. Let’s support plastic waste reduction this fall on the state ballot, but know that we will still have work to do locally to cut single-use plastics from our lives.

Alexander Aruj

Sacramento