Letters to the Editor

We want to hear from you.

If you have thoughts or opinions on what is happening in your local community, California, the nation or the world, let us know.

E-mail your letter to opinion@scng.com. Please provide your name, city and telephone number (telephone numbers will not be published).

Letters of about 200 words will be given preference. Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity.

Thank you.

Last week, the editorial board asked readers what they thought about whether or not the state of California should pay reparations for slavery. We published the first round of responses on Tuesday, as we normally do, but as a result of the volume and quality of letters submitted, we are presenting additional letters from across […]

Letters to the editor |
The time has long since passed for slavery reparations in America: Letters

May 18, 2023 at 9:20 a.m.

Last week, the editorial board asked readers what they thought about whether or not the state of California should pay reparations for slavery. We published the first round of responses...

Re “Enough of the Marxist delusions” (May 14): I agree with Matt Fleming that taxing the rich is not going to save democracy (though our democracy is in extreme peril and I hope something can save it). But, in usual fashion, he sets up a straw man, the obscure Excessive Wealth Disorder theory, and […]

Letters to the editor |
Taxing the rich won’t save American democracy: Letters

May 17, 2023 at 9:31 a.m.

Re “Enough of the Marxist delusions” (May 14): I agree with Matt Fleming that taxing the rich is not going to save democracy (though our democracy is in extreme...

Re “Should the United States have open borders?” I was fascinated to read the arguments of both Sal Rodriguez and Susan Shelley … because Rodriguez’s position isn’t really “open borders” at all. He argues it should be easier for well-intentioned immigrants to come to the U.S. without having to navigate such a complicated series […]

Letters to the editor |
Solving the border crisis: Letters

May 16, 2023 at 7:05 a.m.

Re “Should the United States have open borders?” I was fascinated to read the arguments of both Sal Rodriguez and Susan Shelley … because Rodriguez’s position isn’t really “open...

No, it would be impossible to help all ethnicities that suffered past injustice History is the study of past events. The operative word is “past.” We can’t go back and help those people who in the past have suffered injustice. Probably every ethnic group on the planet has suffered injustice at one time […]

Slavery reparations: should state pay?: Letters

May 15, 2023 at 3:03 p.m.

No, it would be impossible to help all ethnicities that suffered past injustice History is the study of past events. The operative word is “past.” We can’t go...

Re “What’s driving the record levels of migration to the U.S?” (May 12): It is Joe Biden and his administration that have invited the immigrants to our borders. He canceled the construction of the border wall on his first day in office. Donald Trump, during his presidency, had the border under control … not […]

Letters to the editor |
Chaos at our U.S. border: Letters

May 14, 2023 at 10:17 a.m.

Re “What’s driving the record levels of migration to the U.S?” (May 12): It is Joe Biden and his administration that have invited the immigrants to our borders. He...

Re “Bianco fails again as contract rates rise” (May 4): While this year’s 1.63% patrol rate adjustment does increase costs for contract cities, it falls far below the annual rate of inflation. If the newspaper were committed to balanced reporting, you would compare this increase to police budget increases for those cities that have […]

Letters to the editor |
Billing contract cities for sheriff’s services: Letters

May 10, 2023 at 8:16 a.m.

Re “Bianco fails again as contract rates rise” (May 4): While this year’s 1.63% patrol rate adjustment does increase costs for contract cities, it falls far below the annual...

It’s the guns … again. Eight killed and seven wounded in a Texas mall. There’s nowhere to hide anymore. Texas has a particular fascination with guns, having legislated an almost free-for-all system for the possession of high powered weapons of war. And yet it’s the desperate hope that a “good guy” with a gun […]

Letters to the editor |
Texas mall shooting: Letters

May 9, 2023 at 11:02 a.m.

It’s the guns … again. Eight killed and seven wounded in a Texas mall. There’s nowhere to hide anymore. Texas has a particular fascination with guns, having legislated an...

Biden would win over Trump in next election Joe Biden has displayed age-related deficiencies and is a danger to the country because of this. In my opinion his presidency has been a disaster, beginning with the Afghanistan fiasco, open border policies, Ukraine war, the economy, etc. Trump is the target of the left […]

Letters to the editor |
Are Biden’s odds better vs. Trump?: Letters

May 8, 2023 at 10:37 a.m.

Biden would win over Trump in next election Joe Biden has displayed age-related deficiencies and is a danger to the country because of this. In my opinion his...

Re “Who really pays to phase out diesel?” (May 4): It’s time to take the regulations out of the makers and enforcers hands — the California Air Resources Board and the local AQMD. This autonomous and self-serving group both makes the rules and enforces the rules. They answer to no one. Their latest rule-making […]

Letters to the editor |
Diesel long-haul truck regulations in the state: Letters

May 7, 2023 at 10:44 a.m.

Re “Who really pays to phase out diesel?” (May 4): It’s time to take the regulations out of the makers and enforcers hands — the California Air Resources Board...

In highlighting legislation in the California Legislature, Marc Joffee’s article “Two California foster care bills miss the mark” (April 25) also noted the importance of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Unfortunately, this important program, which enjoys broad bipartisan support in Sacramento, is on the chopping block. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature […]

Letters to the editor |
California Court Appointed Special Advocates: Letters

May 3, 2023 at 9:16 a.m.

In highlighting legislation in the California Legislature, Marc Joffee’s article “Two California foster care bills miss the mark” (April 25) also noted the importance of Court Appointed Special Advocates...

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