Each week we’ll run through the sublime, the trivial and profound issues, decisions and goings on that strike us as Hits or Misses. You can join in, too, by emailing your Hits & Misses to editboard@theunion.com, also, to efunez@theunion.com
Miss (from Bob Gould): To Congressman Kevin Kiley. Why don’t you have an open and honest conversation with your constituents with back and forth dialog? On the tele-Town Hall, you pivoted either to your perceived accomplishments, mostly done during the Biden administration, or to California’s problems and criticizing Gavin Newsom and California Democrats. We want to hear what solutions you are offering, and we want you to speak with us face-to-face and hear our concerns.
Hit (from Daryl Grigsby): To Sophia Martin, member of the Nevada County Youth Commission, for her “From Activism to Leadership” Opinion. In it she applauds the mentors in her life, recounts her desire to serve her community at an early age, and lastly — asks that we have conversations and build bridges with our neighbors. She asks we find but one common thread of connection, and build bridges instead of walls.
Hit (from Grigsby): To Gary Palmer for his “Report fraud, waste and abuse.” A compelling piece outlining the hypocrisy, untruths and racism behind the massive DOGE reductions in vital government services. He notes the fraud and waste are not occurring among federal DEI initiatives and school lunches, but can be found rather in Trump’s economic conflicts of interest, defense contractors and other areas where the richer are getting infinitely richer.
Hit (from Shanti Emerson): To Nevada City taking over our beloved Miners Foundry! Nevada County wouldn’t be the same without it.
Hit (from Nancy Brost): To Sheerlie Ryngler’s March 25 article, “The Grass Valley ceasefire debacle.” The Grass Valley City Council passed a cease-fire resolution without even knowing the author of the resolution and without adequate time and community input to properly consider it. The rushed resolution was a waste of time for Grass Valley City Council. What influence or control over global issues and conflicts does the council have! Thanks to Jan Arbuckle who challenged the resolution and was the only council member to vote “no.”
Miss (from Susan Rogers): To Elon Musk’s DOGE team screwing up Social Security’s website and database. I can’t find my 1099 from Social Security (if I ever received it) and need it to file our taxes. Their website says I can download my 1099 from my account, but when I tried to sign in, first it kept returning pages in Spanish. Finally when I got English pages, it didn’t recognize my email address, despite my having received numerous emails from the SSA within the past year. They’ve lost my email address and its link to my Social Security online account! Creating a new account and proving it’s me will take more than the two weeks left before tax returns are due. This is NOT a more efficient government.
Hit (from Ramona Greb): To the astronauts’ news conference. So positive and nonpolitical.
Miss (from Greb): To the ACLU challenging proof of citizenship to vote. I’m for voter ID; all important transactions require an ID.
Miss (from Greb): To Signalgate. Those assessing the leaks — where were they when Hillary destroyed her subpoenaed emails? And the balloons: what info did they collect? A competent leader would have shot down the balloons when they entered US airspace nearing the Aleutians.
Miss (from Greb): To college students. How do they have so much time to protest? Not enough homework? Also, no persons protesting should have their heads completely covered. Cowards? Or are these paid protesters who don’t want to be identified protesting in different cities and states?
Miss (from Fletcher Craddock): To the election being bought and rigged. We need a hand count of all the ballots from the swing states. Something smells really bad.
Miss (from Mike Vasser): To Republicans, who could join Democrats to deal a symbolic blow to Trump’s trade policy with several GOP senators indicating they planned to vote Tuesday to block blanket tariffs on Canada. Hopefully this is the beginning of a movement by Republicans to express their disapproval of Trump’s policies and actions.
Hit (from Vasser): To Greenlanders canceling the cultural events scheduled for Vance’s wife’s visit when Vance decided to join his wife. He and Trump’s position on acquiring Greenland one way or the other has upset the government leadership and people of Greenland. I wonder why?
Miss (from Vasser): To Trump, who just spent $26 million of taxpayer money playing golf since being elected president. The firing of federal employees and cuts in programs has generated less savings than the cost of his playing golf. Where is Musk and his thugs questioning this outrageous expenditure?
Miss (from Vasser): To Trump cutting a $500 million program for food banks to buy local produce. Cuts impact small farmers in West Virginia where Trump won 70% of votes. The next day, he signed a declaration celebrating National Agriculture Day, praising farmers and food makers. What a terrible person.
