Anticipating higher
EDITOR: 2022 can be remembered for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, high inflation and the Fed raising rates of interest seven times in an try to curb inflation. Financial markets were turbulent all around the world, and the bloom got here off crypto currencies. Despite our greatest efforts to disregard it, COVID wouldn’t go away, so the world endured a 3rd 12 months of the pandemic. Given all that, Americans remain an optimistic lot, me included. I stay up for 2023 with renewed optimism and hope that the brand new 12 months can be higher than the last.
KURT DUNPHY
Santa Rosa
Reimbursement delays
EDITOR: You had an article on Dec. 25 about delayed reimbursements to Medi-Cal providers (“County backlog causing hardships”). Perhaps you’ll be able to have a look at other entities and their late reimbursements. As an illustration, we sold a house and closed utilities in early July. PG&E quickly sent us a refund without having to contact them. We needed to contact Sonoma Clean Power for our refund and were told it might be processed in November. We contacted them in December and were told that it might be marked “urgent” and moved up the road. We still haven’t gotten the refund. It is just not a big amount of cash, but this delay does speak rather a lot about business practices and viability.
We had an identical situation with an assisted living home where it took over a 12 months to get a refund. In that case, there was a modified in ownership/management. Are we expected to forget what’s owed to us while at the identical time we’re expected to pay our own bills? What form of a culture are we creating?
SHIRLEY WHITNEY
Santa Rosa
Israel’s recent leaders
EDITOR: The brand new government in Israel poses a serious threat to Israel’s liberal democracy since it appointed people to critical governmental posts whose reputations for bigotry illuminate the political landscape.
As an example, the Latest York Times reported that one member of the brand new government had on his wall for a few years an image of a Jewish settler who murdered, in Hebron, 29 Palestinians in 1994 while they were praying. Yet he can be put in control of national security, which incorporates the police.
One other example of a bigoted appointment is a one that desires to segregate — because the Latest York Times reports — Arabs from Jews in maternity wards and forestall Jewish property developers from selling to Arabs. He can be in control of some features of the occupation on the West Bank.
A liberal democratic state rejects bigotry of every kind. But in the present Israeli case, bigotry is given a outstanding place inside life and politics.
The U.S. government must condemn Israel for these appointments and clarify that continued U.S. backing for Israel is contingent on Israel doing in order well, posthaste.
STEVEN M. DeLUE
Petaluma
Inspiring legacies
EDITOR: I need to thank The Press Democrat for acknowledging the numerous individuals who have helped make Sonoma County such a beautiful place to live (“To not be forgotten,” Saturday). You showed the range, breadth of background, industry and talent and provided a reminder of so many very special individuals who have contributed to the wealthy culture of Sonoma County. These wonderful residents set the stage for us to hold on the legacy they’ve left. I didn’t know all of them, after all, but left the article hoping to fulfill more of my fellow Sonomans in 2023.
SUZANNE TUCKER
Penngrove
Rain returns
EDITOR: Hopefully, the recent rains are a great omen of more coming in 2023. Our arthritis is telling us the Bay Area’s “storm door,” eventually, could also be opening again.
KATHLEEN and FRANK BAUMGARDNER
Santa Rosa
Renewable energy
EDITOR: Mike Gravely, research program manager on the California Energy Commission, said state-sponsored microgrids are supposed to each support business — within the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe’s case, the hotel-casino — and the community during blackouts (“During earthquake blackouts, this Humboldt tribe was an island of unpolluted power,” pressdemocrat.com). Yet the article went on to say every home and business within the state shouldn’t go on the lookout for a self-sufficient energy system because too many microgrid users could undermine the utility-operated grid that the overwhelming majority of energy customers rely on, deepening divisions between haves and have-nots as affluent communities and large businesses install their very own systems.
This is unnecessary, unless it is meant to stall our transition to reliable renewable energy. Homeowners needs to be installing solar systems and electric vehicle chargers ASAP. Large parking lots at public facilities, shopping centers, business parks, and enormous condo and apartment complexes needs to be retrofitted with solar canopies, stationary storage batteries and electric vehicle chargers.
These improvements will minimize the necessity for expensive transmission lines from distant power plants by providing renewable energy production and storage right where most energy is being consumed. It just doesn’t fit our archaic utility monopoly business model. It’s time for that to vary.
JERRY WAGNER
Santa Rosa
You may send letters to the editor to letters@pressdemocrat.com.
Anticipating higher
EDITOR: 2022 can be remembered for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, high inflation and the Fed raising rates of interest seven times in an try to curb inflation. Financial markets were turbulent all around the world, and the bloom got here off crypto currencies. Despite our greatest efforts to disregard it, COVID wouldn’t go away, so the world endured a 3rd 12 months of the pandemic. Given all that, Americans remain an optimistic lot, me included. I stay up for 2023 with renewed optimism and hope that the brand new 12 months can be higher than the last.
KURT DUNPHY
Santa Rosa
Reimbursement delays
EDITOR: You had an article on Dec. 25 about delayed reimbursements to Medi-Cal providers (“County backlog causing hardships”). Perhaps you’ll be able to have a look at other entities and their late reimbursements. As an illustration, we sold a house and closed utilities in early July. PG&E quickly sent us a refund without having to contact them. We needed to contact Sonoma Clean Power for our refund and were told it might be processed in November. We contacted them in December and were told that it might be marked “urgent” and moved up the road. We still haven’t gotten the refund. It is just not a big amount of cash, but this delay does speak rather a lot about business practices and viability.
We had an identical situation with an assisted living home where it took over a 12 months to get a refund. In that case, there was a modified in ownership/management. Are we expected to forget what’s owed to us while at the identical time we’re expected to pay our own bills? What form of a culture are we creating?
SHIRLEY WHITNEY
Santa Rosa
Israel’s recent leaders
EDITOR: The brand new government in Israel poses a serious threat to Israel’s liberal democracy since it appointed people to critical governmental posts whose reputations for bigotry illuminate the political landscape.
As an example, the Latest York Times reported that one member of the brand new government had on his wall for a few years an image of a Jewish settler who murdered, in Hebron, 29 Palestinians in 1994 while they were praying. Yet he can be put in control of national security, which incorporates the police.
One other example of a bigoted appointment is a one that desires to segregate — because the Latest York Times reports — Arabs from Jews in maternity wards and forestall Jewish property developers from selling to Arabs. He can be in control of some features of the occupation on the West Bank.
A liberal democratic state rejects bigotry of every kind. But in the present Israeli case, bigotry is given a outstanding place inside life and politics.
The U.S. government must condemn Israel for these appointments and clarify that continued U.S. backing for Israel is contingent on Israel doing in order well, posthaste.
STEVEN M. DeLUE
Petaluma
Inspiring legacies
EDITOR: I need to thank The Press Democrat for acknowledging the numerous individuals who have helped make Sonoma County such a beautiful place to live (“To not be forgotten,” Saturday). You showed the range, breadth of background, industry and talent and provided a reminder of so many very special individuals who have contributed to the wealthy culture of Sonoma County. These wonderful residents set the stage for us to hold on the legacy they’ve left. I didn’t know all of them, after all, but left the article hoping to fulfill more of my fellow Sonomans in 2023.
SUZANNE TUCKER
Penngrove
Rain returns
EDITOR: Hopefully, the recent rains are a great omen of more coming in 2023. Our arthritis is telling us the Bay Area’s “storm door,” eventually, could also be opening again.
KATHLEEN and FRANK BAUMGARDNER
Santa Rosa
Renewable energy
EDITOR: Mike Gravely, research program manager on the California Energy Commission, said state-sponsored microgrids are supposed to each support business — within the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe’s case, the hotel-casino — and the community during blackouts (“During earthquake blackouts, this Humboldt tribe was an island of unpolluted power,” pressdemocrat.com). Yet the article went on to say every home and business within the state shouldn’t go on the lookout for a self-sufficient energy system because too many microgrid users could undermine the utility-operated grid that the overwhelming majority of energy customers rely on, deepening divisions between haves and have-nots as affluent communities and large businesses install their very own systems.
This is unnecessary, unless it is meant to stall our transition to reliable renewable energy. Homeowners needs to be installing solar systems and electric vehicle chargers ASAP. Large parking lots at public facilities, shopping centers, business parks, and enormous condo and apartment complexes needs to be retrofitted with solar canopies, stationary storage batteries and electric vehicle chargers.
These improvements will minimize the necessity for expensive transmission lines from distant power plants by providing renewable energy production and storage right where most energy is being consumed. It just doesn’t fit our archaic utility monopoly business model. It’s time for that to vary.
JERRY WAGNER
Santa Rosa
You may send letters to the editor to letters@pressdemocrat.com.
