Sacramento Bee readers react to Elk Grove housing decision, Jim Cooper’s climate inaction

Stay in Florida

“Bee readers respond to Newsom’s Florida ads, state worker pay, CARE Court and wildfires,” (sacbee.com, July 17)

Here’s a reply to Florida resident John Reinheimer, who wrote to The Bee to criticize California:

You claim that all Californians have “disdain for law enforcement.” Yet I’m retired from law enforcement, and everyone I personally know has great respect for police officers and first responders.

You criticize our “woke” culture. But being “woke” just means being alert to social issues, racism, discrimination and injustice.

As someone who has known Gov. Gavin Newsom since his days as San Francisco’s mayor, in truth, he is a very kind, intelligent and pragmatic person. Meanwhile, your governor has been on a proverbial warpath against virtually everything — from banning mask and vaccine mandates to the teaching of critical race theory and suppressing voting rights.

Here’s a way to ensure that everyone wins: Just don’t move here to California.

Todd Gearou

Citrus Heights

Feed thy neighbor

“USDA partnership to buy California-farmed food amid inflation,” (sacbee.com, July 28)

The federal government is allocating $43 million to purchase food from Central Valley farmers to feed hungry people. That’s great news for local growers and hungry neighbors, and a reminder that Congress is now discussing what will be included in the next farm bill in the fall of 2023.

Many do not know that U.S. international assistance programs are funded through the farm bill. Central Valley farmers benefit from those programs as well. The need is great: Hundreds of millions of people around the world suffer hunger and food insecurity.

The Catholic community, with assistance from Catholic Relief Services, will be supporting full and flexible funding for these programs. We will be working closely with Reps. Doris Matsui and Ami Bera and others to ensure that the winners are Central Valley farmers and hungry people around the world.

Rich Fowler

St. Anthony Catholic Church

Sacramento

Opinion

News that matters

“Sherri Papini: Story of Northern California kidnapping hoax,” (sacbee.com, July 28)

Your paper devoted extensive front page space plus several inside pages last Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday to “Hoodwinked: Sherri Papini’s Kidnapping Hoax,” a story dredged up starting in 2016. Of what importance or significance is that to readers? I am disgusted that you would saturate your paper with old reporting about one person (who may be mentally ill) when the world is on fire, struggling with so many society-changing issues.

Shirley Schultz

Lincoln

Climate profiteer Cooper

“California pension funds won’t be forced to divest from oil, gas after bill is withdrawn,” (sacbee.com, June 22)

I thought your readers in California’s 9th Assembly District would like to know what Assemblyman Jim Cooper did. If you’re concerned about the climate crisis, you probably won’t agree with him. I know I don’t.

A bill introduced in the California Senate required the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System to divest from fossil fuels. The bill passed the Senate, but when it went to the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee, Chairman Cooper, D-Elk Grove, pulled the bill, preventing the committee from voting. This after he took more than $36,000 from the fossil fuel industry during his run for sheriff.

We should not be directly contributing to the climate crisis by investing in fossil fuels. The fossil fuel industry is also a lousy investment; money is in renewables these days. This bill showed that a lot of people think we shouldn’t be making money from fossil fuels. Obviously, Cooper doesn’t agree.

Paula Fogarty

Santa Rosa

Need for pharmacists

“What to know about the antiviral medication Paxlovid,” (sacbee.com, June 1)

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid as part of the Test to Treat initiative. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers and are extensively trained to interpret lab results and understand drug therapies. Pharmacists are therefore uniquely positioned and clinically trained to prescribe Paxlovid pursuant to the FDA authorization.

However, the ever-worsening crisis of inadequate staffing in large chain retail pharmacies prevents pharmacists from prescribing Paxlovid while maintaining patient safety.

The Test to Treat initiative must mandate and enforce appropriate staffing levels. That would allow pharmacists to do work they are already skilled in and prepared for while maintaining high standards of patient safety and supplying our communities with much-needed public health accessibility.

Lan Duong

Elk Grove

Wrong decision

“Elk Grove leaders say they want to address homelessness. So why are they blocking housing?” (sacbee.com, July 29)

Elk Grove’s decision to reject the development of a supportive housing project was wrong. It seems clear that the City Council responded to NIMBYism. This type of supportive housing project is desperately needed for the mentally ill and homeless in Elk Grove. This was clearly a well thought out project in terms of design and location. I was particularly disappointed by Stephanie Nguyen’s opposition to this project. I had expected more leadership from her.

Tom Monpere

Sacramento