Why are cops and big business spending tons of money to elect Maggy Krell? | Opinion
Krell’s interests
“Who’s funding Sacramento Assembly campaign mailers & ads?” (sacbee.com, Feb. 15)
Voters in Assembly District 6, including myself, are repulsed by the thousands of dollars spent by powerful corporate interests such as cigarette-maker Phillip Morris and the California Association of Realtors lobby group to elect Maggy Krell to the assembly. When given the opportunity to repudiate these special interests, Krell declined, failing a basic test of leadership.
If she can’t stand up to them, do you think she’s really going to fight for us? She will be beholden to these special interest groups as they cut wages, raise rents and spread cancer across our communities. Voters should reject her and choose Paula Villescaz instead.
Glenna J Sansone
Carmichael
Bring Hax back
“Carolyn Hax: Grandmother’s not content with just any Mother’s Day card,” (sacbee.com, March 23, 2015)
Please bring back Carolyn Hax. Her advice columns offer excellent situational and big-picture perspectives that can be game-changing and deeply valuable for personal growth and mental well-being. Her insights into human behavior and motivations are top-notch. “Dear Annie,” the replacement for Hax’s column, is more shallow.
Janet Walden
Carmichael
Opinion
Smear campaign
“The Bee Editorial board split on one key race in Sacramento,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 10)
I’m extremely disgusted by the smear campaign led by the real estate industry against City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela. I have never witnessed such a vicious smear campaign against a candidate for city council.
I am a native-born Sacramento resident who has been active in city council races since 1969, when we elected Manuel Ferrales, the first Latino elected in Sacramento.
Now, that a redistricting commission has all but gerrymandered Valenzuela out of office, and the powers that be are now attacking her via campaign mailers containing racist rhetoric right out of former President Donald Trump’s mouth, equating Latinos with crime. One recent attack campaign mailer used a mugshot-like photo of Valenzuela.
I, for one, fully support Valenzuela’s re-election.
George M Raya
Sacramento
Natural erosion protection
“Levee project could remove hundreds of trees along the American River, Sacramento group warns,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 22)
This article on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) erosion measures makes it seem as if the opposition is simply motivated by a desire to preserve trees. But the community cares deeply about erosion and flood control. An academic team commissioned by the California Department of Transportation found that where there are dense strands of mature trees along the Lower American River, velocities are much slower along the banks than what older hydraulic models have indicated.
USACE claims fast river velocities render environmentally friendly bioengineering measures unfeasible, but that claim is based on outdated 2D hydraulic modeling. Recent 3D modeling from 2021 and 2023 shows that if USACE removes hundreds of trees, velocities will dramatically increase along the banks, exposing them to greater erosion for years to come.
USACE should account for recent research and design measures that work with the American River’s natural erosion protection instead of against it.
Joshua Thomas
Sacramento
Listen to local concerns
“Levee project could remove hundreds of trees along the American River, Sacramento group warns,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 22)
The “crown jewel of Sacramento” is in grave danger, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is ignoring public concerns. USACE is planning on bulldozing hundreds of trees along the American River Parkway. Their proposed decisions will affect this irreplaceable treasure for generations to come.
USACE needs to step forward and address local concerns before any of the proposed destruction occurs.
Margaret McKeon
Sacramento
More thorough review
“Levee project could remove hundreds of trees along the American River, Sacramento group warns,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 22)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is not infallible, hence we have an Environmental Impact Review and Environmental Impact Statement review process for their proposed projects.
Levee projects around Howe and Watt avenues are small components of the much larger American River Common Features project, most of which have been completed and were necessary for improved flood protection. However, these latest contracts go too far in their destructiveness of the river’s legally protected wild and scenic river qualities. They are not justified by seepage or erosion data, but are instead based on opinion and outdated hydrology modeling.
We support scientifically justified flood and erosion protection, which is why we are calling for a suspension of these contracts until more thorough and up-to-date erosion data assessment and hydrology modeling can be done. We further ask that USACE thoroughly involve the public in future river bank erosion studies and project designs and that greater import be given to riparian habitat and recreational values.
William Avery
Sacramento
History lesson
“Sacramento should honor American biochemist Harvey Itano,” (sacbee.com, Feb. 24)
The article about Harvey Itano by UC Santa Cruz PhD history candidate Jonathan Van Harmelen enlightened Bee readers about a Sacramentan with whom I was unfamiliar. Itano’s accomplishments before, during and after WWII — despite being a true victim of America’s past racist and unconstitutional actions — begs for him to be recognized by his fellow local citizens.
I’m encouraged that there are bright, young history students who bring to light a real past that is both disheartening and uplifting.
David Kuchera
Sacramento
