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State must do more
on climate catastrophe
As a child, I experienced a drought-stricken California of five-minute showers to conserve water. As a college student in the Bay Area, I experienced fire seasons and bought N95 masks to filter ash, even before the pandemic. As a young professional, I’m now experiencing a bomb cyclone of rain that has led to a state of emergency in San Jose.
Natural disasters won’t end while all the factors that contribute to climate change continue, exacerbating extreme weather patterns. We must work toward a California where disaster after disaster stops leading to what we’re experiencing now: a “perfect storm.”
Janani Mohan
San Jose
Time is up to do
something about plastics
After reading the article about microplastics in Monterey Bay by Aric Sleeper, I was filled with dismay, anger and frustration.
Dismay, because if you are a breathing person you know that this has been going on for many years. Anger, because in my experience it is far too easy to make the lazy choice of buying six,12 or 24 plastic water-filled bottles instead of filling a reusable container to quench a thirst. Frustration, because this is a complicated problem to change with many stakeholders keeping it from happening. It is not profitable to recycle even though plastic is the largest pollutant damaging forever our oceans and all of us have particles of plastic in our bodies.
Do we care? Education, as difficult as it can be to pull off, is necessary at the least, and the sooner the better. My strongest hope is my grandson will see change.
Toni Thunen
San Jose
Council replacement
process lacks transparency
Re. “Hopefuls lining up for vacant positions,” Page B1, Dec. 21:
The promised transparency in the councilmember appointment process in San Jose is absent. Applications for all applicants aren’t public. Instead, the public is given short notice to review the applications of those privately selected by council members for an interview, offering insufficient time for public comment and validation.
Councilmember’s votes on narrowing the applicant pool aren’t public. This gives the impression of backroom dealmaking.
The selection process is deeply flawed. Elected candidates file a nomination petition with 50 signatures from actual residents to demonstrate community support. Applicants only needed two named references from anywhere. Finally, candidates for elected office must file a Statement of Economic Interest to identify conflicts of interest. But not for applicants.
There is no opportunity for the public to meet or interview applicants in any way as applicants have intentionally withheld contact information. This lack of transparency and public input is concerning and must be addressed immediately.
Sandra Delvin
San Jose
Prop. 13 keeps
seniors in their homes
Re. “California’s Proposition 13 battle enters a new phase,” Page A6, Jan 6:
If Proposition 13 is bypassed or eliminated, I will be forced to sell my home and move out of California.
I am 80 years old and retired. My wife and I purchased our home 47 years ago using a no-down GI loan for $38,600. Currently, it’s been quoted at $1.4 million to $1.7 million. If it is taxed at its current value plus any future tax increases, we will have to sell and leave the state. Preventing this was the reason Proposition 13 was passed in the first place.
I spent my career helping keep this state running in private and public employment (VTA, light rail signal maintainer). Evicting me by raising my taxes is a betrayal. Any working person living here must plan on leaving when they retire and cease being useful to the companies and politicians.
Wallace S. Gardner
San Jose
Not prosecuting Trump
encourages lawlessness
A Letter to the Editor recommends that President Biden pardon former President Trump “to begin the healing process” (“Pardon Trump so we can move on,” Letters to the Editor, Page A6, Jan. 4).
Why stop there? Also pardon the violent MAGA thugs who stormed our Capitol on Jan.6 and the MAGA lawmakers who conspired with and enabled them; pardon all the traitors who have stolen top-secret government documents for their personal gain; pardon all the tax evaders who have cheated our country out of billions of dollars; and pardon all the con artists who have defrauded banks and real estate investors out of billions of dollars.
Then we will have a lawless country run by criminals like Trump, similar to how oligarchs run Russia under Vladimir Putin.
The “healing process” will begin when Trump goes to prison.
Dave Whitaker
San Jose
Lashing out at Musk
shows left’s intolerance
John Bluementhal’s oped “I bought a Tesla, and now I’m embarrassed to drive it” (Page A7, Jan. 4) is the perfect example of how woke culture sows discord, hostility and division among the citizens. Just because he doesn’t agree with Elon Musk’s political views he wishes Tesla to be destroyed.
In spite of being so environmentally conscious and even though he admits that “many insisted that the Teslas were the best for the environment,” his hate for others with different views supersedes his environmental concerns. Apparently, he thinks that his political views are the best and anyone who disagrees is “on the dark side” and should change otherwise the insidious woke culture will ruin you. Also, it seems that in his view, individuals with conservative views are defacto neo-Nazis or QAnon wackos, in spite of the blatant violations of free speech, government corruption and collusion that Musk has brought to light.
Democracy is in peril, indeed.
Marta Duncan
San Jose
Source: www.mercurynews.com