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Increased access to solar
could mitigate fire danger
In a recent East Bay Times editorial (“Study confirms state’s worst wildfire fears,” Page A8, Nov. 3), a study on wildfires in California was conducted, and it stated, “Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $15 billion package to fight climate change that includes $1.5 billion for wildfire response and forest resilience.”
While this is an imperative step in combating one of the many effects of global warming, there is still more that can be done. One way is increasing the access to solar energy across California so that more people can use this clean and renewable energy in their homes. With an important decision coming up soon, like many other citizens, I hope that Gov. Newsom stands up to PG&E and helps make solar rooftops more widespread and less expensive. This will only further his stance on climate change and in making California greener.
Priyanka Gupta-Martinez
Berkeley
Biden should halt new
fossil fuel projects
Your recent editorial, “Study confirms worst climate fears,” (Page A8, Nov. 3) highlights the need for bold federal action to address the climate crisis.
While we certainly need legislation, there are many actions President Biden can take himself to rein in the fossil fuel industry that is driving the drought, fires and other disasters. President Biden has the power to stop fossil fuel projects as he did with Keystone XL pipeline. From drilling on public lands to pipelines, refineries, petrochemicals and exports, he can direct his agencies to reject permits for fossil fuel projects today with a stroke of a pen. Biden has promised to “listen to the science,” and in October over 300 leading scientists implored President Biden to take these actions.
To avoid runaway climate chaos, elected officials at all levels need to take bold action. It’s time for President Biden to use his executive powers to start moving the nation off fossil fuels.
Mark Schlosberg
Berkeley
Democrats pick polluters
over their constituents
Two weeks ago, I stood outside of the Democratic Party Headquarters for four hours in the pouring rain alongside 30 young people from across California to demand that the California Democratic Party stop taking money from fossil fuel companies and law enforcement. We prepared a presentation including drumming, singing and several people sharing about the destruction that fossil fuel companies and police have wreaked on our lives.
However, after a long, insulting discussion about whether to listen to outside opinions like ours, Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks muted our mic demanding that only one individual speak and not sing. Later, Hicks used meeting procedure as an excuse to only hear motions to delay the fossil fuel and law enforcement donation vote by sending it to a newly created committee of people he appointed.
I am tired of my representatives protecting fossil fuels and police instead of me and my community.
Miriam Eide
Albany
Comic’s coded vulgarity
has no place in paper
After putting up with the right-wing political echo chamber in the comics section of this paper in the form of Mallard Fillmore for far too long, the Nov. 1 (Page B11) so-called comic has finally gone too far.
Not content to continually diminish and demean the current administration’s policies the vulgar reference in this column to the latest offensive right-wing meme, “Let’s go, Brandon,” in reference to our current president is inappropriate at best in the comics section of a local newspaper. I doubt you would print it in the editorial section.
I understand fair and balanced reporting, but this is far from that. Time for this type of propaganda to end.
Edward Myers
Antioch
‘Cancel culture’ is
coming from the right
We should definitely stand up against cancel culture.
Foremost, we should stand against the right-wing cancellation of teaching history as it really was. Examples: Slavery, racist segregationist policies, colonialism and institutions dedicated to profit over human needs actually happened, continue to happen and have ongoing horrifying effects.
Let’s not let the right-wing define what and who are really getting canceled.
David Weintraub
Oakland
You’re not free
to make others sick
Anti-vaccine and anti-mask individuals (excluding those who have a documented medical reason to not get a vaccine) scream they want their freedom – for what? Freedom to get COVID and die? Freedom to give COVID to others and have others die? Freedom to risk having their children get COVID and die? Freedom to force others to have to wear masks forever?
If these individuals had gotten the vaccine voluntarily when the vaccine first came out, the pandemic would most likely be over and there would be no need for mandates.
To the anti-vaccine individuals and anti-maskers: grow up and start thinking of others instead of just yourselves — we’re very tired of listening to you and of you holding us hostage to COVID.
Ramona Krausnick
Dublin
Source: www.mercurynews.com