By admin 
Thurmond’s troubling decision
“Thurmond calls Sac City teachers deal decision illogical,” (sacbee.com, Aug. 20)
Read more Receivership, rescission and red ink: What to know about Sac City Unified’s crisis
As the Sacramento County Office of Education’s (SCOE) communications director for 17 years, I watched Superintendent Dave Gordon and the county office repeatedly warn the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) that its financial problems were serious and growing. The warnings were clear: Without meaningful action, the district was heading toward a fiscal crisis.
Those warnings were too often ignored, or dismissed. Now, the consequences are no longer theoretical; they’re imminent and likely unavoidable.
That makes State Superintendent Tony Thurmond’s decision to deny SCUSD’s appeal — while taking personal swipes at Gordon and SCOE staff — particularly troubling. These were the people who spent years doing the difficult, often thankless work of trying to keep SCUSD financially afloat and forcing it to confront problems it didn’t want to face.
Reasonable people can disagree with SCOE’s decisions. But attacking the people who delivered the warnings doesn’t change the facts or solve the crisis. Thurmond’s disparagement is not only misplaced; it’s shameful.
Tim Herrera
Elk Grove
California Forever is not the solution
“California Forever is the housing reform our state desperately needs | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, July 30)
California is in an affordable housing crisis, but the solution isn’t to build an entire city in the middle of nowhere. California Forever is the kind of regressive urban planning that has failed repeatedly. In the San Joaquin County city of Mountain House, residents spend hours driving to the Bay Area because the jobs never arrived.
Read more Receivership, rescission and red ink: What to know about Sac City Unified’s crisis
We need to stop relying on billionaires’ broken promises. Inclusionary housing requirements can ensure 20% of new units are affordable. Short-term rental regulations and vacancy taxes would help renters find housing in high-income areas.
But to fully address this crisis, we need public investment. The private market has continually failed to deliver for young families. If we want affordable housing in the communities where we live and work, we need to invest in it ourselves — not help the rich get richer.
Elizabeth Reid-Wainscoat
Oakland
Corruption continues
“Senate Republicans narrowly confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general,” (sacbee.com, Aug. 8)
The attorney general must be independent of the president and committed to upholding the rule of law. Todd Blanche’s unyielding loyalty to President Donald Trump makes it clear that he cares about neither independence nor the rule of law.
Blanche has helped Trump transform the Department of Justice into a department of revenge, retribution and corruption. As attorney general, he will continue to enable this regime’s rampant illegalities.
Read more 15th annual Sacramento Banana Festival serves up fruity fun by the bunch
Paul Bacon
Hallandale Beach, Fla.