This Pride Month is a call to dismantle prejudice and discrimination | Opinion

Happy Pride Month

“Sacramento LGBTQ Pride parade at California Capitol,” (sacbee.com, June 9)

Pride Month is a time to celebrate and honor the LGBTQ+ community. It is a month filled with love, acceptance and solidarity. The significance of Pride Month goes beyond parades and rainbow flags — it is a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and the importance of embracing diversity.

Pride Month is a powerful statement that every individual deserves to be seen, heard and loved for who they are. It is a call to dismantle prejudice and discrimination, and to create a world where everyone can live authentically and without fear.

Let us stand together, support one another and continue to fight for a more inclusive and accepting society.

Paul Bacon

Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Coyotes unfairly blamed

“Proposal to limit coyote hunting sparks California debate,” (sacbee.com, May 14)

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service found that only a handful of the nearly 9.6 billion domestically-raised animals that humans intend to kill for food every year are killed by other animals. Far more die from health issues, giving birth, weather extremes or poisoning.

Coyotes are often unfairly blamed because they frequently eat animals that have died from other causes. There is a wealth of evidence that deterrents — including appropriate fencing, night corrals, foxlights, strips of red nylon flags and scare tactics — are much more effective at preventing depredation than random shootings.

Coyotes are vital members of healthy ecosystems, controlling disease spread and maintaining biodiversity. The majority of residents prefer science-backed solutions to coexist with these native wild dogs.

Ryan Hajek

Davis

Newsroom independence

“Could $15 million save local journalism in California? We think so,” (sacbee.com, May 30)

Local journalism is a community lifeline, and its struggles hit home. But the $15 million taxpayer subsidy being proposed is the wrong fix. As an elected official during the Great Recession, I understand the pain of crippling budget deficits. With California now facing a $12 billion shortfall, we can’t divert taxpayer dollars from public safety, schools, neighborhoods or roads to fund newsrooms. Every dollar counts.

Government subsidies also threaten the free press. Funding newsrooms risks influencing reporting. Independence is non-negotiable.

Nonprofit models like ProPublica and San Jose Spotlight thrive on private support. The Texas Tribune and Google’s News Initiative prove it works. Let’s rally behind these instead.

Pete Constant

Public Policy Department chair, Jessup University

Going green

“California to extend cap-and-trade despite Trump’s stance,” (sacbee.com, April 16)

Cap and trade markets have been doing poorly for years. Gov. Gavin Newsom will have trouble finding money there to balance the state budget.

Will legislators refuse oil money instead of saving valued programs and setting California on a greener course? California could add money to the Displaced Oil and Gas Work Fund, finance more and better public transportation and add green jobs.

California oil extraction has been declining for decades. Importing more crude oil from Alaska or Texas or even other countries would be a good thing and could reduce both California and global greenhouse gas emissions.

Increasing alternative, cleaner energy (including geothermal) could make us energy independent.

Carol Weed

Walnut Creek