SAVE Act would inconvenience voters in the name of election-rigging

Editor: I have read the SAVE Act. What it does is make it more difficult for eligible voters to cast their ballot by requiring proof of citizenship, which has existed for decades, at time of registration, as well as a photo ID at time of voting. Many eligible voters don’t have access to documentary proof such as a passport, proof of birth certificate abroad or a naturalization certificate. Some who changed their name at marriage may need to present a third document.

Bob Proctor (“SAVE Act doesn’t disenfranchise voters — read what the bill says,” Letters, April 9) is speaking from a position of privilege with no understanding of the struggles of working families trying to juggle work and child care and stretched time schedules. Requiring all these papers takes time and money they don’t have.

Donald Trump is demanding Republicans in Congress “get it done.” This is yet another attempt by him to rig the election.

— Joan Mc Auliffe, Santa Rosa

Calling on low-polling Democrats to drop out of governor’s race

Editor: Are you up for four years of a retrograde Republican governor in California? Well, me neither. But that’s an unintended consequence we may be backing ourselves into with an overly large field of great Democratic candidates without a path to win. Of course, there are a dozen reasons none of them want to drop out of the race. But there is one overarching and crucial reason to do so — the political well-being of the very people they have represented in good faith for their whole careers.

If you share my concern, I hope you will do what I’m doing. I’m writing to the five Democratic candidates who are polling in single digits (comprising 15% of the responding voters) — Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Matt Mahan, Antonio Villaraigosa and Xavier Becerra. In my email I am appreciating their records of public service and respectfully asking them to withdraw now for the sake of the larger good.

You can research this Call to Action on your own or consult indivisiblemarin.org. You’ll see sample letter and email addresses under “Call to Action” on the home page.

— Cynthia McReynolds, Sebastopol

A betrayal of special-needs students in Santa Rosa schools

Editor: The planned demolition of the student garden is a heartbreaking betrayal of Santa Rosa City Schools’ 18-22 transitions program (“ ‘Heart-wrenching’: New school district office will uproot beloved garden,” April 6). This “oasis” is a vital tool for skill building, providing young adults with special needs the independence and workforce readiness they deserve. It serves as a “second classroom” where students learn vital working skills, including connecting with the community at the farmers market by selling what they have nurtured and grown.

It is deeply frustrating that the district, despite being aware of this space’s value, failed to work around it. Destroying a site built with community donations and volunteer labor reveals a lack of empathy for these students. The superintendent and facilities director must act with urgency to rethink this decision. Paving over such a profound source of community support and student growth is unacceptable.

— Greg and Diane Corby, Santa Rosa

Another Trump defense lawyer becomes attorney general

Editor: Hut one, hut two, Pam Bondi hands the ball to Todd Blanche (“Trump fires his attorney general,” April 3). When a convicted criminal becomes president and turns national law enforcement over to his personal defense attorneys you know we are in trouble. Meanwhile, we seem to have transformed justice into “just ICE.” I don’t know when this circus ends, but I long to get out of the tent.

— Brian Narelle, Rohnert Park