Central Valley residents demand answers in Patterson ICE shooting | Opinion

We need answers

“Patterson shooting shatters California’s bubble: We aren’t safe from ICE | Opinion,” (modbee.com, April 9)

The April 7 shooting of Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez in Patterson demands far more scrutiny. Federal officials claim Hernandez used his vehicle as a weapon. Yet witness accounts and emerging video raise serious questions, including whether shots were fired before he attempted to flee.

What is not disputed is that Hernandez was shot multiple times during an attempted detention. The normalization of these incidents is deeply troubling. Multiple U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shootings have already occurred in 2026.

Whether Hernandez was fleeing or posing a threat is the central issue. Until independently established, the public should not be asked to accept a conclusion that excuses the use of force.

Lauretta Lee Ayers

Newman

Proven stability

“Swalwell’s rapid exit scrambles California governor’s race, reshaping path to November,” (modbee.com, April 13)

California’s unsettled governor’s race should remind Democrats that we cannot afford drama at the top of the ticket. With candidates dropping out and new controversies emerging, voters deserve a nominee whose record is solid and whose focus is on governing, not self-promotion.

Betty Yee offers proven stability. She is a calm, fiscally responsible adult in the room, precisely the kind of leader California needs in a volatile moment. Democrats and Independents should choose Yee.

Daniel E Cohen

Walnut Creek

Groundbreaking solutions

“UPDATE: Northern California under a flood advisory until early Sunday,” (modbee.com, April 11)

Property insurance functions as our “financial first responder” after a disaster, allowing residents and communities to recover. Only 2% of California residents have flood insurance policies. Other countries offer hazard insurance to all homeowners at surprisingly low cost.

Sen. Adam Schiff has introduced federal legislation to incentivize insurers to offer all-perils coverage. Such innovation is currently unlikely in Washington, but California has the expertise, innovative spirit and scale to design groundbreaking solutions and document their feasibility.

Nicholas Pinter

Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, UC Davis

Chair, Securing California’s Flood Future Panel