Letters to the Editor, Sunday Nov. 9
The Government Rewrites the History of Jan. 6
Two federal prosecutors were placed on leave by the Justice Department after references to the Jan. 6 Capitol event were removed from court filings (pressdemocrat.com). This action implies the government is treating the event as if it never happened. Other countries that have altered or suppressed their histories include Russia, Hungary, China, and Germany.
“So, according to our own government, the event never happened.”
The concern is what else the Justice Department might want the public to forget. The phrase “land of the free and home of the brave” is questioned—what happens if it is lost from collective memory?
Another Audit Isn’t the Answer for Santa Rosa Schools
Teachers and staff at Santa Rosa City Schools have requested another audit of the district’s finances (“Teachers union rallies for outside audit,” Nov.). However, audits only verify whether spending and balances are properly recorded; they do not assess the necessity or effectiveness of expenditures.
- Audits consume significant time and resources that the district currently lacks.
- Past audits of the district’s finances returned nearly perfect results.
- One audit process typically takes about six months to complete.
- Detailed financial records obtained through the Public Records Act were thoroughly reviewed with no major issues found.
“An audit only determines whether spending and balances are properly accounted for. An audit doesn’t determine whether spending is needed or effective.”
Based on experience, another audit would not provide new insights and would divert important resources from the schools.
Author’s summary: The letters highlight concerns about government actions erasing historical facts and question the effectiveness of repeated financial audits for Santa Rosa schools.