Dangers of fast food

I’m writing to let you know how worried I am about the health issues that eating at fast food businesses can create. Research indicates that eating fast food has a detrimental effect on one’s health and has a significant role in obesity. Obese children and youth have been much more prevalent in recent years, especially as fast food franchises have grown in popularity. This junk food causes obesity and other health problems since it is heavy in calories, fats, sugars, and sodium. Low-quality ingredients are used by many fast food chains, making their products harmful. To appeal to younger consumers, addictive chemicals are also introduced, which makes obesity rates worse.

This pattern raises the risk of health issues later in life. Furthermore, fast food simply gives a false sense of fullness and has little nutritious value, which leads to the accumulation of fatty substances in the body. Raising awareness of the risks associated with fast food is crucial, in my opinion, as I am really worried about the health of the next generation.

— Taylor Tanaka, Cal State Monterey Bay student

Water needs

The Herald recently ran a guest opinion from Lacy Carothers, the director of engineering at California American Water, where she said: “As the director of our engineering team for Cal Am, when we say that the Monterey Peninsula will likely need 14,480 acre-feet per year of water in 2050, I assure you it’s based on sound data and thoughtful modeling.” To which I say, “Oh really?” “Sound data and thoughtful modeling” that yields a growth rate of 52% in 25 years? Growth which we have never seen. No one has. How can we believe that? AMBAG says population will grow by only 10.4% in population in the same 25-year timeframe. When is it time to stop the nonsense?

— David J. Stoldt, general manager, Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

Power outages

Wow, three recent power outages without any real storms! Perhaps if PG&E (Please God, send Electricity) spent less time on those obnoxious, unconvincing, self-congratulatory infomercials, and more time on service, we’d be better off. The only silver lining in this dark cloud is that, unlike Cal Am during the drought, PG&E won’t bill us for the power we didn’t use, but would have had we been able to.

— Glenn Nolte, Carmel Valley

Sea otters

Thanks to the Herald for recently featuring Jane Goodall and her return to Carmel to support protection of the California Sea Otter. Goodall was inspired by the work of the late Margaret Ownings, who established the Friends of the Sea Otter in 1968. In light of this focus on sea otter protection, I would like to remind readers of California’s Voluntary Sea Otter Tax Contribution Fund. As a member of the California State Assembly and Senate, I was honored to carry legislation to continue this voluntary fund. The Fund has distributed just under $2 million since 2008.One example of the fund’s success was the eradication of a toxic neurotoxin found in Pinto Lake in Watsonville that was identified as contributing to the deaths of at least 31 sea otters. This tax season, I encourage readers to make a voluntary contribution to the Sea Otter Fund on your state tax return or instruct your tax preparer to do so. Sea otters not only serve as a monitor of the health of our oceans, they also draw tourists who support the economy of the Monterey Bay.

— State Sen. Bill Monning (ret), Carmel

Department of Education

I am a college student in my third year. I rely heavily on funding that comes from the Department of Education including FAFSA to provide and ensure I am able to attend school and get the education I need. I am writing to express my concern about Donald Trump’s stance when it comes to the Department of Education and his plans to eliminate and defund it. The stance to eliminate an agency that ensures so many American students have access to a fair and equal education seems to be a step in the wrong direction. The Department of Education is so crucial because it sets up a system where all are able to gain access to education as well as ensuring that public schools are properly funded. Low income families and students with disabilities are heavily affected by the Department of Education and funding supports them and accommodates their needs. I believe that instead of cutting funding we should be looking at how to better improve it. As well as advocating in support of the Department of Education to ensure that it stays up and running to continue to provide equal opportunities for all children.

— Breanna Rojas, Salinas