Bernie Sanders, AOC rally in Folsom leaves attendees feeling ‘emboldened and empowered’ | Opinion

Enthused and emboldened

“See highlights from Bernie Sanders, AOC’s speech to thousands in Sacramento area,” (sacbee.com, April 15)

Enthused, emboldened and empowered is what I felt listening to the speeches given in Folsom on Tuesday night by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

One of the greatest takeaways of the evening was not just the urgent and vitally important messages that they both conveyed, but that I was surrounded by approximately 26,000 of my neighbors from every gender, age, race, religion, physical ability and economic status. We yelled, clapped and booed together because of our shared beliefs in a country that upholds the Constitution, our existing laws and the betterment of every single person, not just the 1%.

We came for an “in-person” experience that our representative, Congressman Kevin Kiley, is unwilling to provide to his constituents.

Wendi Ross

Roseville

‘Sacramento’ movie sparks memories

“‘Sacramento’ movie celebrates city’s charm. How director, star says it came to be,” (sacbee.com, April 11)

This article states that the new movie “Sacramento” has “elements … a local would have to look past,” such as “driving over the Tower Bridge … into town.”

As Sacramentans of, ahem, a certain age will remember, that was, indeed, the entry to Sacramento. And the only way for people from the west to get to Tahoe. Highway 40 took that route, winding to 16th Street then to Highway 40 for points east. On hot summer days, the unwelcome slow-down did not endear Bay Area folks to our fine town.

In 1955, my introduction to my new hometown was being driven by my mom across that bridge as we were moving here from the Bay Area. I remember it being quite a glorious entry!

Roger Niello

Fair Oaks

Needed transparency from Matsui

“El Salvador President Nayib Bukele to visit White House Monday,” (sacbee.com, April 8)

Our congressional representative, Doris Matsui, refuses to hold in-person town halls to answer questions from her constituents about our Constitutional crisis.

President Donald Trump and his cabinet are lawless, unaccountable to our justice system.. They admit that they deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a Salvadoran mega-prison known for human rights abuses on accident, and refuse to bring him home.

In a conversation with Matsui’s office this week, I was told she will not hold town halls because they “aren’t going well” elsewhere. Representative Matsui, this country is not going well.

Sacramentans deserve active representation and answers about what Matsui is doing to uphold her oath to the Constitution.

Dustin Heron

Sacramento

Kiley supports voter suppression tactic

“If you changed your last name after getting married, your right to vote is at risk | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, March 13)

Congressman Kevin Kiley supports House Resolution 22, which may come up for a vote in the House soon. H.R. 22 is an onerous solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. It’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote, and there’s no evidence that noncitizen voting is affecting election outcomes anywhere in the U.S.

Any form of voter fraud is extremely rare. Even statistics from the conservative Heritage Foundation prove this is the case. Therefore, it makes no sense to force citizens to take the extra step of providing evidence of citizenship in order to vote.

The intent of H.R. 22 is voter suppression, which is un-American and should be opposed.

Shelley Corrington

Roseville

Support Polluters Pay legislation

“CA must hold Chevron financially accountable for oil spills,” (sacbee.com, April 17, 2024)

My parents expected a rate increase with home insurance renewal, but a staggering 67% hike, pushing the premium over $4,000, was beyond anything they imagined. And we still count ourselves lucky, as many Californians are losing coverage entirely as insurers retreat from areas devastated by climate change-driven disasters.

Wildfires, now more frequent and intense, are driving up insurance costs, endangering public health and undoing years of progress in reducing emissions. Yet, while taxpayers and vulnerable communities bear the brunt of these crises, fossil fuel companies — the primary contributors to climate change — continue to post record profits.

It’s time to hold Big Oil accountable. The Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act would require the largest fossil fuel companies to contribute their fair share to repairing the damage they’ve caused.

Iris Wang

Saratoga