Joy to the world

Your Christmas Day editorial was a beautiful and meaningful one on the mystery and message of Christmas. Thank you very much.

— Joyce Spencer, Pasadena

I’m a believer

Thank for for your awesome editorial today (Dec. 25) regarding the mystery and miracle of the birth and death of Jesus Christ. I am a believer, and I really appreciate your acknowledging my Lord and Savior Jesus. You even included wonderful Scripture references! So lovely!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the staff at Southern California News Group.

— William Stremel, South Pasadena

Our government at work

So a coalition of public and private organizations are going to act in concert to restore the historic MacArthur public park to a safe, clean, green place replacing the existing putrid, lawless, drug-infested pit it has become.

How is this possible?

I cannot believe such a coalition can be effectively managed.

Which entity is in charge?

Who provides leadership?

My opinion is that this effort is another unfortunate example of governmental avoidance of responsibility by creating another unmanageable entity.

— Joseph F. Paggi Jr., Pasadena

Canal Zone

That Trump could even suggest taking back the Panama Canal shows how dangerous and unhinged he is. That’s like Mexico threatening to take back parts of the Southwest if we don’t stop the gun smugglers (and having the muscle to do it). Can you think of a better way to invite China to play a role in South American politics, perhaps followed by aid against U. S. aggression? The American people, having voted a lunatic into office, and can expect more lunacy in the days ahead!

— Dave E. Matson, Pasadena

The last embers

Hopefully the last embers of the Franklin fire in Malibu will soon be out. That fire slightly exceeded 4,000 acres, fortunately less than the far larger, devastating fire in the Santa Monica Mountains six years prior.

Coincidentally, 4,000 acres is almost the exact size of the Puente Hills Habitat Preserve above and east of Whittier, a little-publicized but treasured wilderness whose wildlife gene pool is regularly renewed by the wildlife corridor streching from the enormous Cleveland National Forest south of the 91 Freeway. Having hiked this wilderness for the past 70 years, I find the number of visitors now enjoying this native preserve has increased 1,000-fold during this period. It is an island surrounded by millions residing within only a few miles of this unique wilderness offering ecology lessons for young and old.

But does it present another fire danger? Nowhere in California is immune from fire. Preserve management has taken a dozen steps to minimize fire impact on surrounding communities. This includes a heli-hydrant for helicopter in-air water resupply, goat grazing of fire-prone areas, revegetation with fire-resistant native plants, plowing of hillsides below surrounding residences, rangers dedicated to the preserve fully trained and equiped for firefighting, to name but a few.

This wilderness preserve of flora and fauna in the midst of our crowded metropolitan area is here for all of us to appreciate, enjoy and celebrate — free of charge!

— Lee Willard, Whittier

Global warming: Myth or truth

Re “Progressive myths harm the honest discourse” (Dec. 22):

Outright lies also harm the honest discourse. The author claims that it is a myth that global warming is an existential threat to America and the world. It is not a myth. It is simply the truth!

The author goes on to state that “virtually no serious scientists think that global warming is an existential threat.” Another untruth. Well over 90% of scientists believe that global warming is real and provides a very serious threat to our way of life and other life on the planet.

Global temperatures are rising. The temperature of the oceans are rising and the oceans are becoming more acidic due to absorption of carbon. Weather is becoming more extreme. The author should be ashamed of his article.

— Larry Kramer, San Juan Capistrano