Housing in California

Re “State planning for housing failing Southern California” (Oct. 8):

Yes, we have a housing crisis in California. Most of it is affordability. It’s the American dream to own a house. Even if you own your own home, it’s harder and harder to pay for insurance and taxes. Insurance rates in California have more than doubled in the last few years. Most insurance companies have left California and many others will not take on new clients. Some homeowners are paying over $10,000 a year for homeowners insurance. So the promise of our politicians to help the housing crisis should start with affordability for insurance. The promise of building new homes and giving away down payments is ludicrous Just another empty campaign promise to get your vote. If politicians do something about the high cost of insurance and the stranglehold the insurance companies have on us, just maybe that would help in affordable housing.

— Tim Carlisle, Yucaipa

Harris’ media interviews

Re “Harris talks issues as Democratic ticket steps up interviews” (Oct. 7):

Right, she steps up these hard-hitting scripted interviews with “60 Minutes,”

“The View,” Howard Stern and “The Late Show,” all Trump-hating venues. Oprah is still trying to figure out what Kamala was saying during her interview with the VP. Right next to this story is a NY Times article telling us Trump’s too old to be president. Sadly, the newspaper continues to be just an extension of the leftist Democratic Party.

What a sellout. And hundreds of thousands of taxpaying people are leaving California every year.

— Rodger Clarke, Santa Ana

JD Vance and his ever-changing political views

Re “JD Vance lied and Tim Walz fumbled big time” (Oct. 6):

In his column on Sunday, Oct. 6, Rafael Perez called JD Vance a liar for changing his views as a political career move. How about the Democrats in the past who have “evolved” with their abortion stance? First to come to mind is Obama who signed a 2010 bill not allowing federal funds to pay for abortions. He is just one of many to change his views. Now, they want you to sign on to abortions right up to the birth of a child as a woman’s right. So if Republicans change their views they are liars and Democrats are just evolving.

— Jackie Banuelos, Mission Viejo