Letters: Bad ideas to build housing, help homeless | Sacramento Bee

A new, old idea

“Force homeless people into institutions, Republican candidate for California governor says” (sacbee.com, April 3): Travis Allen says, “We need state-run mental institutions where people can actually go, (where) the indigent can go and get the help that they need.” The same was true some 30 years ago, when Reagan Republicans pulled public funding from those mental institutions, insisting that the better answer was for people to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. So where is that mental health funding going to come from now? California has already so overfilled its correctional institutions that it has to send inmates out-of-state. Does anyone seriously think another state will accept our mental health patients, too?

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Housing crisis

“Cheaper California housing? One idea to lower costs makes candidates for governor uneasy” (sacbee.com, March 28): So they’re thinking of giving more authority to build low-income housing near “transit rich” areas. Sacramento RT certainly avoided placing transit near people who have jobs, so now the idea is to bring the ghetto to the transit. Just brilliant.

Politics vs. profits

“Dialysis clinics put profits ahead of patients“ (sacbee.com, March 29): Filthy and unsafe conditions are not the way for clinics to make a profit. It is commonly said that somebody is “putting profit ahead of patients.” That can happen, but the government can also put political ideology and public employee unions ahead of patients. The route to better care is not through pursuit of an unrelated political agenda.

Cutting emissions

“Why roll back progress toward cleaner cars?“ (Editorials, Apil 2): Donald Trump allows his hatred of Barack Obama to ignore proof that California emission reductions are cost-effective measures that cut the medical needs of residents, lower costs for consumers and extend the life of structures attacked by pollutants. If fuel economy standards are relaxed, auto companies will reduce unit costs by abandoning advanced technologies, harming U.S. competitiveness. Going backwards gives extinction the edge.

Police shootings

“Police could only use deadly force when ‘necessary’ under new California proposal” (sacbee.com, March 3): This article doesn't mention Assemblyman Jim Cooper. Does he condone the actions of officers shooting an unarmed man suspected of a misdemeanor crime? Is he part of a law enforcement culture of excessive force? Or does he not want to bite the hand that feeds him, by funding his political career? Assemblyman Cooper shouldn’t be allowed to escape this discussion.

Shame on Kaiser

“Fired after Stephon Clark comment, Kaiser nurse starts GoFundMe page to help pay bills” (sacbee.com, April 3): I find it disgraceful that Kaiser Permanente would violate a nurse’s right to free speech by firing her. Let me be perfectly clear: I don’t agree with her views whatsoever, but they were said on her own personal social media page away from the hospital. She may have worked for Kaiser, but Kaiser does not own her and shame on them for thinking they do.

What free speech?

Our freedom of speech means you can call for “dead cops,” but you cannot speak freely and say “he deserved it by running from the police.” When an anarchist can get into your private profile, find where you live and work, contact your workplace and demand that you be fired, then no we do not have freedom of speech.

Sheriff Scott Jones

“Stephon Clark protester hit by Sacramento County sheriff's vehicle during march” (sacbee.com, April 1): Once again, Sheriff Jones displays his disdain for our community values. While Sacramento police are doing what they can to de-escalate tensions, the sheriff and his minions fan the flames. This is one reason among many to distrust Sacramento County government. Jones has presided over violence in his jails and sexual harassment among his deputies, but still finds time to defend Trump’s racist policies. See you in November, sheriff.

Single-payer works

“Instead of single-payer pipe dream, this legislation will expand health care” (sacbee.com, March 28): The writer claims single-payer is “unachievable, deficient in policy and fiscally irresponsible.” It has been “achieved” by some 40 industrialized democracies that spend half of what we do and with better outcomes. If it is “deficient in policy,” then talk to the California Assembly, which has shelved Senate Bill 562 and failed to do their job to develop that policy. If a single-payer system is a pipe dream, give us what the rest of the civilized world is smoking.

BEAR League

“Tahoe bears are breaking into homes with people inside. Should the animals be killed?” (sacbee.com, March 16): We want to clear up any misconceptions. The BEAR League is a nonprofit committed to educating humans and the non-aggressive, black bears in the Tahoe National Forest so we can all share this habitat. When a bear trap is set on the California side of Tahoe, the bear that is captured is killed. BEAR League members are here to help find non-lethal solutions. It’s up to people to make sure bears can’t get our food. Most residents appreciate what we do and follow our advice. But for some, it’s easier to kill the bear. When this isn’t as simple as they hoped, there has to be someone to blame. Enter the BEAR League. We understand this comes with the territory.