Trump and Hitler
On Oct. 27, Susan Shelley’s piece about Trump was not entirely truthful, by omission rather than commission. She asks “where were the death camps, world wars and round-ups of political enemies while Trump occupied the White House?” She must be reminded that Hitler was around spewing hatred and lies to the German populace for about a decade before the death camps and world wars started, so Trump is only about halfway there.
— Roger Ervast, Redlands
Election 2024 ballots
Re “Fires set off in drop boxes destroy hundreds of ballots” (Oct. 29):
This article reported that there were two fires, one in Portland, Oregon and another in Vancouver, Washington destroying hundreds of ballots. It said the fires were both in the early morning. My question is, why were there so many ballots in those boxes in the early morning? Some reports said there were ballots that had been left there all weekend. In my opinion, this is inexcusable! If the ballot-collecting entities had been doing their jobs, those boxes should have been empty. Drop boxes should be emptied regularly and often to prevent this sort of thing. And of course they should never be left full for an entire weekend. We are consistently being told that mail-in and early-voting ballots are safe. All ballot collecting offices (and our governments) need to do a better job of delivering on that promise.
— David Ward, Anaheim
Hollywood’s tax credits
Re “Taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize Hollywood” (Oct. 24):
What wasn’t mentioned is the film tax credits actually make money for the state (LAO); keep over a million people working; and is one of the few that is fiscally responsible. I shared your opinion with other professional crew members who make their living in this business. Here is an alternative: Many businesses are leaving California. Maybe we should, too; many already have. There are over 100,00 of us. We aren’t rich, though our rates put us in the highest tax brackets. We’re used to living like nomads, given that most work is on location, especially after COVID lockdowns and the strikes, which devastated us financially again. Why stay? Our diminishing wages can go farther elsewhere. It’s not ideal to be held hostage. But unless you want another namesake industry to crumble ,you either feed the beast or starve, and many at this time are. It’s rough.
— Lydia Milars, Los Angeles