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Bay’s health is criticalto health of region
Re: “Invest in Bay Area’s greatest asset: Nature” (Page A8, Aug. 24).
Andrea Mackenzie reminds us to invest in our greatest asset, nature, by enlightening us about the quiet miracles of Coyote Valley.
Yet the greatest, most tireless of nature’s ecosystems is one we all often overlook, the Bay itself. The Bay is often valued only for its inimitable beauty and recreational opportunities, but its natural shorelines, marshes and wetlands labor every moment of every day to provide us with clean air and water, moderate temperatures, protection from storm surge waves and much more. Rich shallow water habitats also nurture life, from fragile hatchlings that sustain our commercial fisheries to the vast abundance of birds and wildlife that call it home.
This is all at risk of being lost to sea level rise. We depend on healthy Bay ecosystems to sustain our entire region, so let’s invest in keeping them alive to ensure that future generations will thrive alongside them.
Gita DevWoodside
Cost of not drawingnew maps is too high
Re: “California can’t pay for special election” (Page A6, Aug. 27).
John Hoving laments the supposed cost of the November election. Well, let’s face facts: If we don’t try to counteract Texas’ redistricting, we may never have another election again. Boy, John, that’d save us a bunch of money, but at what cost?
We used to be a democracy: one person, one vote. What’s happened to America? What’s happened to adherence to the rule of law? What’s happened to habeas corpus? What’s happened to objective truth?
People cannot ignore what’s happening and hope everything will be okay. Everyone needs to pay attention, read everything, listen to trusted voices and vote. The America we want depends on it.
Denise DeLongSan Jose
Democrats’ strategyfor Trump is too timid
On Aug. 25, I went to Rep. Sam Liccardo’s town hall in Portola Valley. What I saw demonstrated to me why Democrats have their lowest ratings in decades. I was deeply angered and frightened by his timid oratory.
Donald Trump is invading Democratic run cities like Los Angeles and D.C. in order to have a police state in blue population centers in time to fix the midterms. Meanwhile, Liccardo ‘s strategy is to stand by and let Trump’s disastrous economic and authoritarian policies destroy our country, thinking the voters will then return the House to Democrats.
Wake up, Sam. Your strategy is wholly insufficient to meet the moment. Wake up, other weak Democrats. Wake up, America. Gov. Newsom is right; if Trump steals the midterms, this democracy is over. Paul Krugman is right. This is a five-alarm fire. Sound the alarm, everyone.
Michael BaerSan Jose
Valley Water works hardto serve customers
Re: “Plans for new reservoir sink amid cost overruns” (Page A1, Aug. 27).
The recent unanimous decision to halt the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project will be viewed by many as long overdue, and hindsight will allow the project’s detractors to ridicule the time and money devoted to the project.
I applaud Valley Water’s fine staff for all they do to secure a reliable water supply, promote conservation, maintain our aquifers, prevent flooding and protect our environment. Climate change is creating great uncertainty regarding future water supplies, and we should continue exploring all feasible storage solutions with the same relentless vigor that was devoted to Pacheco.
I encourage anybody who is cynical about the management of our watersheds to learn more about Valley Water and get to know the competent, caring people who work there. If all you know about them is what you read in the paper, you are sure to get the wrong impression.
Doug PetersonSan Jose
College leaders, Demscreated climate of fear
The Trump administration is using a heavy-handed approach to fighting antisemitism on college campuses. The previous administrations either ignored the problem or practiced a form of appeasement, allowing a hostile environment for Jewish students.
Anyone who saw Rep. Elise Stefanik grill three university presidents who could not say whether calling for the mass murder of Jews violated the campus code of conduct should understand what Jewish students have been facing. This hostility, and in some cases outright discrimination, has been festering long before the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
Had college administrators and Democratic officials done their jobs, Donald Trump and associates would not have been able to weaponize the issue as they have. Whether it was to pander to the radical left wing of the party or just not caring about the safety and well-being of Jewish students, they contributed to a climate of fear that could have been avoided.
Gilbert SteinAptos
Citizens must call onTrump to end Gaza war
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has reached a devastating level. The world has watched in horror as communities have been torn apart, and innocent Palestinians, including a disproportionate number of children, have been killed.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a stain on our collective conscience. Hospitals have been bombed, refugee camps have been attacked, and access to food, water and medical supplies has been severely restricted.
It is crucial that we, as global citizens, do not remain silent. We must call on our leaders to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire and a commitment to international law. We must advocate for a lasting and just peace that addresses the root causes of this conflict, including the occupation, and ensures human rights for all. We can’t let the voices of the victims be silenced.
There is one person who can make this stop. That is President Trump.
Helena VellaBurlingame