UC Davis chancellor sounds like Donald Trump while describing bloodshed in Israel | Opinion

UC Davis’ disappointing statement

“How the Hamas attack on Israel shows where California Senate candidates ‘really begin to divide’,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 11)

We have all seen the recent horrific scenes of Palestinian terrorists crossing into Israel and committing horrible acts of violence, killing over 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapping over 150 Israelies, including women, children and elderly individuals. Unfortunately, UC Davis Chancellor Gary May’s recent message regarding these events is disappointing. Rather than taking a firm stand against Hamas’ terrorism and noting the horrific and depraved acts, he takes a stance of moral equivalency by writing about the “great losses of life of Israeli and Palestinian civilians.”

May’s statement is reminiscent of the infamous Trump line, “there were good people on both sides.” Chancellor May fails to meet the mark established by both the UC Regents and President Biden that unequivocally condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas.

Burl R. Don, M.D., professor emeritus

Shingle Springs

Potential housing sites

“Gavin Newsom promised 350 tiny homes for Sacramento’s homeless this fall. So where are they?” (sacbee.com, Oct. 11)

Yet another delay? If this is a “crisis,” why not act like it’s one?

Cal Expo sounds like a great potential site. I’ve suggested that the city of Sacramento look into both McClellan Air Force Base and the former Mather Air Force Base as additional sites. I’ve reached out to the city suggesting that the city work with the county to consider both of these locations, but have not gotten a response.

One of the biggest hurdles to providing a safe and secure site for the homeless is where, exactly, to locate them. And who can blame neighborhoods who don’t want these sites near their homes, with many of our homeless neighbors trapped in mental health issues and drug addiction.

So why not consider these two huge former military bases as sites for homeless camps, where there is ample room to house the services they desperately need?

Chuck Robuck

Woodcastle

Opinion

Wrong people jailed

“First California fentanyl murder sentencing in Placer County,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 11)

Our hearts go out to the family of Jewels Marie Wolf who died after ingesting a pill laced with fentanyl given to her by Nathaniel Cabacungan, who will be sentenced 15 years to life for murder.

Does this punishment fit the crime? Individuals can make up their own minds, but the bottom line is that just another desperate, uneducated, misguided young person with very limited resources and no political influence will spend over a decade (or more) in prison. Yet the sentence will have almost zero effect on narcotics use.

Meanwhile, the Sackler family — who ushered in the modern wave of opioid addiction with Oxycontin that killed over a million Americans since 2000 — faces zero jail time.

Americans need to send the right people to prison if we want to deter narcotic dealers from distributing addictive drugs. The Sacklers having to do hard time would send a much more powerful message than Cabacungan doing 15 to life.

Arthur Clark

Sacramento

Immediate disclosure

“CA senators are hypocrites on campaign finance reform,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 4)

Matt Rexroad’s editorials are always good additions to your editorial pages. He makes several good points in this one, but the most important is the following: “What this legislation really does is push money into independent expenditure committees that are not subject to this rule.”

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that every campaign expense reform measure pushes money to independent expenditure committees and away from the candidates themselves. Rexroad is also correct when he says, “Get rid of limits (to candidates) and require complete, full and immediate disclosure.”

Roger Niello

Fair Oaks

Enough already

“CA’s Capitol Annex project is Sacramento’s nightmare,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 11)

Stop the disruptive $1.2 billion boondoggle of building a new “Annex” office building for legislators attached to the capitol building. California’s legislators have been working perfectly well in their present offices in a building across the street from the capitol building. Leave them there.

The old 1952 “Annex” office building that was attached to the Capitol has been demolished. Just restore the Capitol building and the adjacent park to their original historic status. Sacramento and the state will be better off for it.

Bill Jurkovich

Citrus Heights

Government for the people

“After one week without a House speaker, Republicans appear no closer to choosing a new leader,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 10)

Perhaps they don’t realize it, but our elected officials have the opportunity to be truly transformative figures in our country’s history by putting country over party, dedicating themselves to unity and getting stuff done.

I believe there are enough members who believe, as I do, that there is a great need now to reach across the aisle and have Republicans and Democrats work out legislation that reflects the country — not one side or the other.

The need is urgent. The time to act is now, and the whole world is watching. The world doesn’t see Republicans and Democrats, it only sees Americans. And it sees that American democracy is in peril.

The country needs you to take the lead. Take a chance on democracy. Govern for the people and by the people.

David Crowe

Sacramento