Letters for April 25, 2019

Re: “30 years of SN&R covers” by Foon Rhee(Feature, April 11):

The recent announcement of SN&R’s 30 years in print said there had been no changes in core values. Good. But the content is becoming less interesting and relevant to many of us.

The name of this publication, as well as the goal to publish a “top-flight news and entertainment” weekly, seems to have gone adrift. How is adding a gardening column and dropping the entertaining movie reviews in line with the goal? And the adult advertising section—tell me, does that go under entertainment?

Judy Stabler

Citrus Heights / via email

Thanks for the support

“30 for our 30th” by Foon Rhee (Feature, April 11):

Thank you SN&R for being so supportive of my journey. People like me just put our fingers to the plow and don’t look back. Thank you for recognizing a black trans woman. That, my friends, is a revolutionary act in itself! Happy to be named among local greats such as Flojaune G. Cofer, Melinda Ruger and Pastor Les Simmons.

Ebony Harper

Sacramento / via Facebook

Powerful don’t listen

Re: “Public opinion” by Foon Rhee (Editor’s note, April 4):

I’m not a fan of these polls as a way of guiding public policy, particularly when only the people polling get to see the exact wording of all the questions. The questions asked can make the difference between a genuine desire to gauge the public mood, or a desired policy goal or response.

For those of us who don’t get to participate, we feel left out of the conversation. I also blame huge political districts, which dilute the public’s voice, particularly with money and lobbyists. The German parliament has more than 700 members. To have the same representation, we would have 400 legislators, not 120. It will never happen, though. The rulers love their money and power too much to let it be sullied by those of us in the unwashed masses.

Jeff Doll

Elk Grove / via email

No “Chinese peril”

Re: “The Chinese connection” by Scott Thomas Anderson (News, April 18):

It is unfortunate that SN&R has taken the 420 issue to be racist and stupid about Chinese buying up homes in the Sacramento region and the marijuana black market. The story takes Trump political divisiveness to bring the theme of immigrants as killers and criminals and to exploit the local fear of Chinese money buying up homes.

I worked in Stockton and can tell you that $6 million of illegal marijuana was grown in the San Joaquin islands in 2012. You do not hear of this and many more stories because they are not directed at the current “Chinese peril.” The Chinese connection story is out of sync with FBI facts about the marijuana black market. Instead, we should be celebrating this year as the 150th anniversary of when Chinese laborers helped build the Transcontinental Railroad.

David Soohoo

Sacramento / via email

Correction

Re: “Suspicious aid” by Raheem F. Hosseini (News, April 11):

Opening Doors interim CEO Debra DeBondt was misidentified as Deborah Ortiz, whom DeBondt replaced. SN&R regrets the error.