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Climate change is the real risk, not battery fires
Don’t like fires? The batteries at Moss Landing burned for one night. Fortunately, the EPA’s findings suggest there was no health impact. And there is good reason to believe future fire risk can be mitigated with open-air construction and improved battery chemistries. In contrast, the fossil gas plant on the same site has been burning since 1950, with well-documented links to childhood asthma from using the same fuel within homes.
Some would argue that Monterey and Santa Cruz counties shouldn’t be subjected to energy infrastructure at all. But, of course, residents would still like clean, cheap, reliable power. The result is that less resourced communities will bear the burden of that energy infrastructure instead.
If AB 303 passes, battery construction will get harder across the state. More fossil gas will be burned. We can do better than putting the brakes on climate solutions and forcing poor communities to foot the bill. Let’s refocus on the real risk to our beautiful biomes: climate change.
— Austin Park, Santa Cruz
Fire: Elected leaders not protecting citizens
A symbolic emergency proclamation does not excuse the Board of Supervisors from their responsibilities and duties to protect its citizens. Like the Nero of Los Angeles, Karen Bass and dysfunctional Governor,Newsom, this Board quickly turned the blame-game, like Mayor Keeley’s wharf fiasco, away from themselves rather than offering solutions and apologizing to citizens.
America voted for change in the 2024 elections because they did not like the direction which Democrats were taking them. Hopefully citizens in the next election will vote for change and newly elected officials who will be fiscally responsible and restrengthen our trust in our elected representatives to protect citizens versus allowing this horrific battery fire disaster go unchecked.
Moss Landing to Watsonville agricultural fields and soils most likely are toxic; while Moss Landing ecological damage and unsafe drinking water to long-term health problems have yet to be identified.
Monterey County and Santa Cruz voters deserve better from their elected leaders’ passing the buck and waiting for another disaster to happen.
— Jeff Staben, Soquel
Supports for faith group opposing deportations
A word of gratitude to Pastor Scott Newman and the 30 faith leaders who shared their insights on the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. I wholeheartedly agree with your insights and your objections to the activities of our current administration. I don’t believe that there is a faith tradition in the world whose teachings would support rounding up people in such a wholesale manner and exporting them in the way we see happening now.
I’m not one of those who signed this statement but I’d be honored to be counted as the 31st faith leader to express my support of this Guest Commentary.
— Rev. Clyde Vaughn, United Methodist Minister, Aptos
Holocaust remembrance and Gaza destruction
Monday, Jan. 27, marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops. As we remember the millions of innocent people who were murdered by the Nazis just because they were Jews, let us think about the thousands of innocent people in Gaza who since Oct. 7, 2023, have been killed and the million or more innocent people in Gaza who have had their homes demolished by Israeli Jews with the help of American weapons, just because they were not Jews.
— William Rentz, Santa Cruz
Don’t overlook valuable Grey Bears Bookstore
In a Jan. 25 Commentary, Stephen Kessler waxed effusively about the glories of the bookstores in Santa Cruz. He forgot to mention one tiny gem; The Bookstore at Grey Bears. While its space may be miniscule, its reach is far and wide. Grey Bears is the grateful recipient of thousands of books by a caring community.
I have volunteered and worked in all aspects of the book department since 2016. We sort books is several ways; listings on Amazon, bookstore quality, and sharing overflow with other nonprofits in the county. We sell books, not only to raise money to fund our food supply efforts, but also to provide access to great books to people not always able to afford new books.
Overflow books are donated to other non-profits in the area such as vets, nursing homes, as well as the little roadside libraries. Area antique books dealers are welcome to make appointments to buy in bulk.
COVID has reduced the bookstore staff which slow down books sales. We need volunteers for the store and the research department.
— Kilda McKeever, Santa Cruz
Publish more Letters to the Editor supporting Trump
I must protest the censorship of free speech rights taking place in the Letters column. The only letters I see most often criticize Trump for problems beyond his control.
If you really wanted more subscribers you could at least include more opinions supporting Trump. The voters elected him and their feet are more on the solid ground of reality than any of the AP news media.
— Bill Graham, Salinas