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Trump’s new agendajust what nation ordered
Re: “Short memories have our nation in peril” (Page A6, Jan. 22).
In James Miller’s letter, his closing statement was, “I pray you can stomach the meal you are about to be served.”
I am so looking forward to the new menu. The corruption of the last four years has caused unceasing indigestion, so deleterious that pardons were required not just for his son, but for his entire family, as well as another disgraceful first — needing to pardon an entire congressional committee. That menu made us look like a banana republic. His policies resulted in the highest inflation our country has experienced in over 40 years. And while the rate of inflation has declined, the resultant prices have not, making it difficult for American families to make ends meet.
Indeed, most Americans believed our country was on the wrong track. The new guy’s menu is exactly what he said it would be. Enjoy it.
John GriggsDanville
Lee’s age alone makesher bad pick for mayor
Re: “Lee jumps into Oakland mayoral race” (Page A1, Jan. 9).
News that the elderly Barbara Lee is running for mayor is depressing.
She has absolutely no experience in running an organization of even 50 individuals, much less the 50-plus organizations and departments and thousands of people in Oakland government.
I would have hoped the Democrats learned from Joe Biden that even if a person did have the necessary qualifications, advanced age alone is a disqualifier.
Michael ThalerOakland
Oil companies shouldpay for disastrous fires
Re: “Dems eye $1.5B for L.A.-area fire battle” (Page A1, Jan. 15).
Gov. Newsom shouldn’t have to tap into the new climate bond to pay for fighting and recovering from the L.A. fires. Those responsible for the scale and severity — Big Oil companies — should be paying for it, not the very Californians currently suffering in this disaster.
A recent report by the Climate Center found that California’s oil and gas companies have been avoiding paying billions in taxes that could address climate and wildfire mitigation and could have prevented or shortened this disaster. Why are we stuck footing the bill when the companies fueling the fire for decades are getting off scot-free with their record profits?
We need to pass legislation to hold polluters accountable — a climate superfund bill that makes Big Oil pay to clean up the crises they’ve caused. Gov. Newsom and California legislators, step up and take action to make polluters pay before it’s too late.
Zoe JonickOakland
Incarcerated firefightersrepaying debt to society
The incarcerated firefighters of the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation working with Cal Fire are doing a civic duty for the Los Angeles area.
So many people are speaking on the fact that they are incarcerated, yet many overlook the fact that they are giving back to society by risking their lives. They are willingly accepting their past mistakes while striving to better their lives by helping others.
All of our first responders deserve our support and respect. Keep up the good work Cal Fire, Los Angeles Fire Department and our CDCR inmate firefighters. You make us proud.
John CrosthwaiteCorcoran
Demand state restorefunding for libraries
Libraries have been doing more than just lending books. The activities include feeding hungry kids, youth activities and providing seed kits. Mobile and outreach services are provided through the Mobile Library, the Education and Literacy Program, and library services at the local jails.
SB 321 was passed by the state Legislature in 2023 but without accompanying financial support. Funding is badly needed to ensure library card access to school-aged children, and also to restore statewide access to BrainFuse online services. Funding under the California Library Services Act was reduced by 50% in the previous budget cycle. Restoration of Lunch at the Library funding to earlier levels is necessary to provide 300,000-plus free and nutritious summer lunches, accompanied by literacy-enhanced wraparound programming, at hundreds of libraries each year.
We request state Legislature representatives to stand firmly on this and support the restoration of funding for California’s libraries in the upcoming budget cycle.
Subru BhatUnion City
GOP watches as Trumpassaults Constitution
On the first day of his term, President Trump signed an executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. The order is cruel, reckless and a blatant violation of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees that everyone born on American soil is a U.S. citizen.
Many Republican members of Congress are choosing to remain silent on this lawless order, hoping they can avoid being tied to this attack on our Constitution and the endangering of newborn babies by the leader of their party.
Let’s raise the volume on their silence by publicly highlighting their refusal to defend their own constituents and the Constitution they swore an oath to uphold.
Steve LassoffBerkeley