Editor:
Kevin McKeown’s recent letter about Mayor Lana Negrete didn’t sound like modern policy debate. It sounded like a relic from a time when dismissive language toward women in leadership went unchallenged. We’re past that. Or at least, we should be. Calling a woman’s disagreement a “hissy fit” or accusing her of “pouting” isn’t commentary; it’s a tired tactic used to belittle women for speaking up. We can debate housing laws and local planning without slipping into language that dismisses a woman’s voice instead of engaging her ideas.
Mayor Negrete raised concerns shared by many residents who feel caught between state mandates and local needs. (I’ve seen enough City Council meetings to know I agree with her, not with a Council that too often seems aligned with developer interests.) You don’t have to agree with every choice she makes questioning Sacramento’s approach to housing; it’s part of the work of representing a community. Leaders across California are grappling with the balance between state directives and local control, and thoughtful discussions should be welcomed, not mocked.
Jay Bienstock
Santa Monica