Reference check

Re: “Judge rules that Twin Rivers School District retaliated against whistle-blowing teacher” by Scott Thomas Anderson (News, Feb. 2):

I have known this teacher before and after my time on the TRUSD board. I have known him to be a quality teacher, man of honor, and a professional who deeply cares for his students.

Walter Garcia Kawamoto, via sacramento.newsreview.com

Vindication in Twin Rivers

It is deeply troubling to what length this amazing teacher must go to obtain some form of vindication. Although it’s the proposed decision and not final, this judge will remain the only one to see the whole hearing and make her decision. Gina Carreon and the district continue to cover up their fraud and violations of students’ and teachers’ rights.

Rebecca Wu, via sacramento.newsreview.com

Corrupt district

That school district has been ripe with corruption since it was formerly known as Grant! Good teachers and principals dismissed without cause!

Steven Seyfert, via Facebook

Political fights

Re: “Blame game on homeless deaths” by Foon Rhee (Editor’s note, Feb. 1):

Problems are problems and need to be solved and solved quickly. I would add, though, that the times do not seem to be good times for authority figures, whether it involves the COVID-19 relief bill at the national level, the vaccination rollout at the state level or, locally, the issue of folks spending their nights in thin, flimsy sleeping bags on cold cement sidewalks.

Maybe these tough times are caused by the pandemic that has been weighing on us all these many long months. Maybe it is the infighting within political groups: traditional liberals vs. determined progressives; traditional conservatives vs. resolute populists; and then everybody vs. everybody else. Maybe it is the social media, which is still a relatively new and evolving phenomenon, which at times can call forth our better angels but which at other times can also set us at each other’s throats.

Larry Stenzel, via Facebook

Oasis of open space

Re: “Rancho Cordova residents rally to save one of the city’s last pieces of open space” by Scott Thomas Anderson (News, Jan. 27):

I didn’t like Sacramento when we moved here 16 years ago. I don’t like it now, and I don’t expect I ever will.

Sacramento is far and wide. It is difficult to escape the sprawling freeways, suburbs, shopping centers, strip malls, street corners, etc. Even our urban outdoor spaces are meager parks and walking trails, stifled amidst an ever conspicuous metropolis. Sure, the wilderness is a day trip away, but it is not readily accessible for the daily dose of grounding and serenity that someone like me needs to thrive, and can only get from being in a space removed from civilization. These preserved oases carved out amongst a gentrified land are the only spaces to breathe, find a semblance of solitude and connect with the earth. If they continue to plow them under, even in a “city of trees,” it will be as good as being caged.

Heather Fry, via Facebook

Land is money

When I took California’s two basic real estate courses at Sac City College a couple of years ago, one of the instructors told us that in real estate, the “highest and best use” of any piece of land is defined as whatever makes the most money.
That’s not the way to build a healthy community for the community, and it’s definitely not the way to kick our fossil fuel addiction and be sustainable.

Muriel Strand, via sacramento.newsreview.com

Women in movies

I’m an eight-year-old girl. I love to draw and play Ark. There’s a problem with how I see women in TV and movies. It shouldn’t matter if you have a unibrow or you’re black, white, or hold a teacup correctly.

Wonder Woman is badass, but her outfit doesn’t make sense. How could you fight like that? The men are wearing armor. She’s wearing a bunch of make-up. Wonder Woman passed out in her costume because it was so tight. They still wanted her to wear the costume! Why can’t she wear something that protects and helps her fight?

This isn’t fair. I’d make movies about strong, powerful women–female scientists and adventurers. I’d replace princess movies with badass, not showing a bunch of skin or make-up, movies!

I’m only 8 years old, I shouldn’t feel like I’m not good enough.

Dylan Finch, via email