Does Supervisor Patrick Kennedy want to turn Sacramento into Orange County? | Opinion

Kennedy’s push for more sprawl

“Sacramento region has glut of proposed “greenfield” housing,” (sacbee.com, March 7)

Thank you to Bee opinion columnist Tom Philp for explaining the word “greenfields” to the reading public. The definition sure sounds like sprawl to me. Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy’s “realistic” plan is to fully turn the six-county region into Orange County North. Is this his vision for our future?

“Utopian” is what he calls the Sacramento Area Council of Governments’ (SACOG) policy for breathable air, roads that aren’t further choked with even more cars and rangeland without strip malls. Call me “pie in the sky.” but I’ll vote for SACOG’s ideas for the future of the greater Sacramento region over Kennedy and the developers 100% of the time.

David Kuchera

Sacramento

Health impacts

“Sacramento region has glut of proposed “greenfield” housing,” (sacbee.com, March 7)

This excellent reporting explains the conflict between sprawl, the housing industry, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and the possible loss of half a billion dollars’ worth of federal transportation funds if plans for the Cordova Hills development project proceed. As reported, this project “is the worst in the county,” from a climate change perspective.

Missing from the discussion is the fact that this and other “greenfield” development will worsen air pollution in the Sacramento area, which already ranks consistently among the worst regions in the U.S. for fine particulates and ozone. These pollutants are among the causes of asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease, high blood pressure and premature births. Additional air pollution will add to the human suffering in our community as well as the associated economic and family burdens of poor health.

Ruth McDonald, MD

Sacramento

Opinion

Childcare needed in Newsom’s campaign

“California program developed to inform women on emergency preparedness, natural disasters,” (sacbee.com, March 5)

The governor’s recently announced Listas Campaign rightly acknowledges that women — particularly women of color — often are responsible for leading their families and communities to safety in the face of disasters. Informing this group about what to do in a disaster is an important but insufficient strategy.

Parents tell us that what they need when disaster strikes is childcare so that kids have a nurturing environment and parents can go back to work, navigate services and process their experience. However, under this campaign, there is no requirement that childcare is included in city, county or state emergency response plans.

Every government agency and community organization should plan to have childcare in place when disasters strike. Parents already have to spend countless hours piecing their lives back together while children are traumatized and out of school.

If we want women to lead the charge in disaster preparedness and response, let’s give them the real tools to do so.

Mikey Latner

Los Angeles

Reducing stigmas in AAPI community

“Sac State AAPI panel breaks down mental health stigmas,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 9)

Though millions suffer from mental illness, it’s a particularly sensitive issue in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Increasing mental health awareness through panels is great, but IT might not be enough to change the stigma among AAPI groups.

Asian parents often believe that seeking help is a sign of weakness and can diminish their children’s mental health complaints in comparison to their own hardships. Because of this, Asian youth might not disclose their mental health struggles. Intergenerational conversations facilitated by mental health professionals could address the lack of understanding and communication between Asian parents and children.

Advocates and researchers should explore the use of intergenerational conversations and other interventions in anti-stigma programs for AAPI groups to increase mental health care utilization and reduce harm.

Hannah Yonamine

New York, NY

Livid with Schiff

“Porter continues to claim CA primary election was rigged,” (sacbee.com, March 7)

Katie Porter is livid and so am I! I voted for her, and for Adam Schiff and his cronies to have contributed to ads that supported Steve Garvey is shifty and sleazy.

Porter is no-nonsense and a straight-shooter, which clearly intimidated Schiff. For that, I’m not voting for either Schiff or Garvey.

Bridget Whitted

Folsom

Senator Schiffty

“Porter continues to claim CA primary election was rigged,” (sacbee.com, March 7)

I agree that the funding of Steve Garvey’s campaign by the Democratic party and candidate was lacking in integrity. Did some of Donald Trump’s narcissism rub off on Adam Schiff during the impeachment hearings?

After this, I will always think of him as “Senator Schiffty,” who put his career before what may be best for California and its citizens. I will likely write in Katie Porter in November.

Muriel Strand

Sacramento