Public servant blunders are letting us all down

The blunders and arrogance of government officials at all levels in California cause me, and I hope others, to be angry and frustrated with them.

Even Democratic party apologist Willie Brown wrote critical comments in the S.F. Chronicle: “But when those leaders order shutdowns with no science to back them up, people who demand explanations and get no answers can lose faith that they’re being given the straight story.”

Other front page headlines in the same paper: “S.F. constructs bureaucratic nightmares” for an article about the 58-page document that begins, “Obtaining a city permit can undoubtedly be one of the most confusing processes you may ever experience.”

Also, “California sent kids out of state to for-profit facilities — after reports of abuse, the state is bringing them back.” Also, “Feinstein’s capability called into question. Establishment still backs her.”

The list goes on. The EDD scandal, where gross incompetence resulted in thousands of citizens facing long delays in receiving critical unemployment benefits.

California’s attorney general was so busy suing Trump he missed the multi-year EDD fraud costing hundreds of millions of tax dollars.

Or rushing the transfer of prisoners to San Quentin from another prison before they were tested for COVID, resulting in a surge in infections at the prison.

The billions wasted on a rushed and ill conceived bullet train.

How about forest management and wildfire prevention?

Public employment pension benefits that are much, much higher than private plans, are outrageously rich for certain categories of employees, and which are now depriving citizens of essential services as tax dollars are shifted to pay these unfunded promises made by elected officials.

Very low accountability. One party governance. Me first, party second, friends third, citizens fourth. We are in dire need of more, true, public servants.

— Mark Hall, Novato