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State isn’t makingmost of rooftop solar
Re: “Law expands energy trading across the West” (Page A1, Sept. 28).
All these programs, measures and laws concerning solar energy, specifically in California, will continue to fall short of the ultimate goal to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels and reduce the high cost of electricity for all of us. Also, the use of valuable land to install solar farms is not the best idea either.
Like I’ve suggested before, every commercial and residential rooftop should be utilized in some type of state or federal program to place, at low cost to property owners, solar panels and storage batteries to solve this not-so-difficult problem. Another advantage of this is that all of these structures are already connected to the grid, so no need to build more long-distance transmission lines.
Think of the not-too-long-ago national programs to build out telephone, electricity, interstate freeways, etc., to modernize and improve our country.
Bruce KrutelEl Granada
Texas resident urgesyes vote on Prop. 50
Seven years ago, I moved from Silicon Valley to Austin to be near my grandchildren in Texas.
This year, in mid-cycle, the Texas Legislature changed the shape of my congressional district to one that extends from a suburb east of Austin almost to the New Mexico border, a distance equal to that of San Francisco to Los Angeles. They sliced the Austin area into such thin strips that an 8-mile stretch of I-35 that runs straight north of Austin now spans five congressional districts.
When in California, I voted for independent redistricting. Please vote to temporarily suspend that provision now.
Philip AnthonyLeander, Texas
Harris is a victimof double standard
I have found it a bit strange reading the quips from various sources about Vice President Harris’ book “107 Days.” It is a well-written account of not just the campaign but a remarkable life.
It starts with an account of her entry into the race, and ends with her showing up without fanfare (or an attempted insurrection) to preside over the swearing in of President Trump. The brief comments about her vice presidential choice are based on their strengths and weaknesses, and what they might bring to the ticket. No personal attacks. Some of the reviews focus on her looks and how she speaks. Again, quite a bit different than the overweight guy with a comb-over who posts nonsense on Truth Social several times a day.
Harris lost a close race with a campaign she inherited. She has earned a place in the next round.
Thomas ScottMorgan Hill
Hegseth is rewritingWounded Knee history
Re: “Hegseth says Wounded Knee soldiers will keep their Medals of Honor” (Page A5, Sept. 27).
Pete Hegseth’s action to let the 19 soldiers from the Massacre of Wounded Knee retain their Medals of Honor is a bad precedent and more evidence of how the Trump administration will distort history to market themselves.
He terms the conflict a “battle” when in fact it was a “massacre”. The Lakota were already surrounded, and half of the group was women and children when the incident started. It was a brutal, one-sided slaughter. The U.S. soldiers no more deserve medals than those who participated in the My Lai massacre.
Any person or organization that can’t or won’t own up to a tragic mistake will not learn or prevent a similar atrocity from recurring. We shouldn’t be rewarding bad behavior. Thirty-five years ago, Congress passed a resolution expressing “deep regret for the massacre.” Why now is Hegseth trying to put lipstick on the pig?
Tom CalderwoodLos Gatos
Altering Supreme Courttrue threat to democracy
Re: “Rep. Zoe Lofgren and Sen. Alex Padilla propose a bill to ban mid-cycle redistricting” (Sept. 19).
Rep. Lofgren and Sen. Padilla’s bill to ban mid-cycle redistricting is a good move to protect democracy and check the power of the president. But a better move to protect democracy would be to take away the power of the president and Congress to expand the size of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Expanding the size of the court would set a precedent that any party may abuse to rubber-stamp any legislation or executive order. This would erode the independence of the Supreme Court and threaten our democracy.
This is why we must pass the Keep 9 Amendment, an amendment introduced into Congress by a Democrat in 2020, simply stating that, “The Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine Justices.”
Eugene Greg ZuluetaSan Jose
Comey prosecutorshould be disbarred
Disbarment proceedings must be started for Lindsey Halligan for the unethical indictment of James Comey. An experienced, competent U.S. Attorney declined to indict Comey last week because the evidence didn’t exist. Yet this week, the incoming, inexperienced former insurance attorney somehow found enough new evidence after a couple of days to indict him.
She is obviously indicting him because Donald Trump wants it done, despite violating DOJ guidelines against pursuing cases without sufficient evidence or a high probability of a conviction. Disbarment proceedings should be started immediately so other unethical attorneys know that they will lose their law licenses for misusing their authority.
Also, a GoFundMe should be started so democracy-loving citizens can contribute to Comey’s defense. Trump knows he can’t get a conviction against Comey. Trump wants to try to bankrupt him with legal costs. Let’s not give him the satisfaction.
Barry JacksonSan Jose