Letters for March 10, 2016

Boo, Beer Week

Re “The beer issue” by SN&R Staff (SN&R Feature Story, February 25):

The concept of Beer Week, in essence celebrating an addictive drug, is insane. And the beer industry is allowed to redefine the English language so that a “week” means 12 days. Both of my parents died of alcoholism, but their cause of death was listed as “natural causes,” meaning that we really don’t know how many die from alcohol in this country every year. This “celebration” is proof positive that our economic system values profits over people.

Don Knutson

Sacramento

Stand up for what’s right

Re “On Guard” by Graham Womack (SN&R Beats, March 3):

We need to again stand up nationally for what is right. California, including Sacramento, stood up strongly against apartheid in South Africa and needs to just as strongly oppose the horrific abuses in the private prison-industry complex. The United States of America leads the world by far in number of people incarcerated; this injustice is especially evident in the terribly unjust proportion of African-Americans imprisoned and in the disproportionate manner lengths of sentences have been historically calculated against people of color.

Frank L. Topping

Sacramento

Say no to G4S

Re “On Guard” by Graham Womack (SN&R Beats, March 3):

As a United Methodist, I am proud that my denomination is one of several that have divested from G4S because of its involvement in human-rights abuses and private prisons. The Presbyterians, United Church of Christ, Quakers and Mennonites have all taken a stand for socially responsible investing by dropping G4S. Our public-transit dollars also must be spent with social responsibility in mind—that is why RT should not extend the G4S contract and allow it to expire this June.

Fran Eldredge

Sacramento