‘Misguided,’ ‘the right thing’: Sacramentans split over city’s ceasefire resolution | Opinion

Misguided resolution

“Sacramento CA council approves Gaza cease-fire resolution,” (sacbee.com, March 20)

As a cousin of an Israeli hostage that Hamas murdered on October 7, I cannot overstate how misguided the mayor’s resolution on Gaza was and how painful it was to watch the hearing.

As anticipated, the resolution dramatically missed its intended mark of bringing us together, and, instead, sowed deep division which will take years to repair. Further, the lack of symmetry between an official endorsement by an Arab-Islamic organization and only individual support by members of the Jewish community exposed the deep flaws in its design and content.

If there was one shining moment in an otherwise disturbing evening, it was Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan’s thoughtful and legally grounded opposition.

Like others who have been traumatized by October 7 and its aftermath, I’m hoping the council can return to the actual work of the city by channeling our collective energy in ways that unite — not divide — us.

Ryan Pessah

Sacramento

Strength of character

“Sacramento CA council approves Gaza cease-fire resolution,” (sacbee.com, March 20)

Not only did Sacramento do the right thing in joining the cities in the U.S. calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, more importantly, we did it in the right way: graciously and collaboratively. Thank you to Mayor Darrell Steinberg for leading us in this accomplishment.

We appreciate your ability to change your position when you realized it was the right thing to do. That demonstrates the strength of character that all of us in the peace and justice movement aspire for.

Gail Marie Erlandson

Sacramento

Opinion

Ceasefire resolution

“Sacramento CA council approves Gaza cease-fire resolution,” (sacbee.com, March 20)

Thank you, Mayor Darrell Steinberg, for steering this ceasefire resolution through the council. It is an example of doing the tough work and staying at the table when emotions and opinions are intense. This international issue is very local, and our community must call for a permanent ceasefire.

Our Sacramento Friends (Quaker) Meeting also worked hard to approve a statement, and the process was priceless. Both statements may not be perfect, but they demand the justice and peace that we all crave.

Sacramento Quaker Meeting calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and peace negotiations; delivery of the full amount of humanitarian aid to Palestinians caught in the war; the return of all remaining hostages; assurance that international laws are recognized and applied universally; support for the two-state solution; rejection of Islamophobia and antisemitism both at home and abroad; and a global commitment to finding peaceful ways to resolve conflict.

Cynthia L Fowler

Sacramento

Environmental rebuttal

“San Francisco seeks to avoid a state environmental law,” (sacbee.com, March 23)

Sen. Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 1227 would exempt most new development in Downtown San Francisco from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The senator asserts that Downtown San Francisco is a “concrete jungle,” but he forgets that thousands of people live and work here. CEQA protects public health by ensuring new projects do not cause noxious air and water pollution or exacerbate soil contamination.

If CEQA is eliminated in all California downtowns, as proposed by opinion writer Tom Philp, that would create a clear case of environmental racism. Urban areas, where most people of color live, would be deprived of environmental protections while largely white, rural areas would continue to enjoy the full protections of CEQA, including a cleaner environment and democratic rights to participate in environmental decision-making.

Ozzie Rohm

San Francisco

Secret deal

“Questions arise over $18.5 million K Street purchase,” (sacbee.com, March 24)

Yes, of course, the city paid far too much for a building. Like so much of how the Sacramento City Council conducts itself these days, the negotiations for the settlement of the lawsuit brought by the wronged developer were done in secret. The mayor’s chief of staff said the mayor “could not disclose what was discussed in closed sessions,” but that doesn’t mean the mayor can’t say whether he thought it was a good decision.

According to the article, the city said it “obtained a beautiful, historic building in the heart of our downtown that has the potential to become affordable housing for people who badly need it.” Translation: We cut a secret deal, losing millions of dollars for the sake of affordable housing.

Bill Motmans

Sacramento

How Schiff can win support

“Rep. Adam Schiff’s win came at a big cost to Katie Porter,” (sacbee.com, March 7)

Now that the dust has settled in the contentious primary election to fill the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat, we need to discuss what Congressman Adam Schiff must do to win the support of voters of color and progressive voters.

Schiff is the presumptive senator-elect in a reliably blue state after one of the most expensive senate races in California history. Progressives and people of color rallied behind Congresswoman Barbara Lee because her lived experience as a Black woman and single mother who has experienced poverty, housing insecurity, discrimination, racism and domestic violence resonates with millions of Californians.

Progressives envision a country that delivers freedom, justice and equity for all. To this end, Schiff needs to support the Green New Deal, champion comprehensive immigration reform, fight for racial justice and criminal justice reform, pass legislation that lifts millions of families out of poverty and advocate for peace.

Christopher R. Wilson

San Francisco

Different data

“CA lawmaker proposes changes to farmworker overtime law,” (sacbee.com, March 11)

The UC Merced Community and Labor Center claims that agricultural employees increased their incomes while working fewer hours in the years after they began to transition to overtime similar to workers in other industries. This is flawed and incomplete in several ways. It fails to note the impact of the rising California minimum wage, which increased between 2017 and 2022 from $10 per hour for small employers to $15 per hour for large employers. This alone can at least partially account for the increased earnings of agricultural employees noted in UC Merced’s analysis.

The university’s data does not specify whether it has been adjusted for inflation. The work of Dr. Alexandra E. Hill of UC Berkeley is based on information gathered by the long-running, highly-respected National Agricultural Worker Survey and reports that employees experienced fewer working hours and lower earnings as a result of the ag overtime transition.

Bryan Little

California Farm Bureau, employment policy director