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 their own departments. I am convinced that this would show that in-house policing cost increases are far greater on an annual basis and over recent years. As a retired city manager for the city holding the county’s largest law enforcement contract, I have first-hand experience with the commitment, professionalism and value provided by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Do your journalistic homework and provide balanced information before rushing to bash our Sheriff’s Department.
— Tom DeSantis, Temecula
Crime and the correlation with density in our cities
M. Nolan Gray (May 7) attempts to use the fear of wildfires to produce support for development that is unwanted by some communities. This blatant effort to support the hunt for profits by developers is disgusting. Local control of zoning laws and development is critical for a community to maintain its desired characteristics. When spewing statistics regarding efforts to limit higher population density development, why is it that the correlation with crime rates is not included? The fundamental problem is population pressure, but no one will step up to the question of carrying capacity, because it will offend the growth objectives of developers. And if hysteria pertaining to wildfire risks is part of the discussion, please acknowledge the successful technology demonstrations and developments to provide earlier detection and response that were introduced in response to the Camp Fire tragedy.
— Tim Woodington, Glendora
Emergency room patient care and the border
Re “Hospitals battle overcrowding” (May 8):
We have an influx of individuals, many of whom have absolutely no access to primary care or any care or insurance, who are all landing in emergency departments. And perhaps the “influx of individuals” is because of the open border policy of the Biden administration and is the reason for overcrowding and high medical costs.
— Donna Hall, Rancho Santa Margarita
![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 […]](https://www.sgvtribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2018_1008_generic_mailbox_letters_to_the_editor3-12.jpg?w=513 "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 […]")
![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 […]](https://www.sgvtribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2018_1008_generic_mailbox_letters_to_the_editor3-11.jpg?w=513 "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 […]")
![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 […]](https://www.sgvtribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2018_1008_generic_mailbox_letters_to_the_editor3-10.jpg?w=513 "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 […]")
![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 […]](https://www.sgvtribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2018_1008_generic_mailbox_letters_to_the_editor3-9.jpg?w=513 "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 […]")