‘Walking the walk’ for St. George residents

The Tuesday Sentinel featured a Guest Commentary headlined: “St. George Apartments — Save the 71.” The commentary concerned those who will be displaced or highly affected by proposed rent raises at the downtown Santa Cruz residences.

The issue is complex and can be viewed from many perspectives. But two aspects of the essay seemed especially noteworthy. The writer and the many signees didn’t play the “good guy/bad guy” card! They didn’t blame, polarize or over-dramatize. They simply asked that together we find a practical, compassionate, reasonable alternative for those affected.

The second impactful aspect of the article concerned the combined, committed and compassionate motivation of the local faith community. Nonprofits and government organizations can help ease our housing challenges, but the faith community is the body that “fills the gaps,” roots its efforts in simply doing the right thing by serving and helping others when there is need. The Association of Faith Communities and its allies are “walking the walk” and lighting the path leading toward creating a better community for all of us.

— Steve Bare, Santa Cruz

Educating voters about Democrats’ border policies

In Sunday’s “As You See It” the claim was made of Trump’s advice to the GOP not to endorse a bipartisan solution for the border. The writer claimed it was so Trump could maintain the falsehood that many believe about the Democrats’ open borders policies.

First off, as is the habit of both sides, the titles of their bills are often unrecognizable to the content. The admonition of the writer also cautioned all to educate themselves before believing these lies. Admirable and wise!

From the start Biden and his border tsarina Kamala Harris stopped the wall construction. It had already been paid for, parts and labor. Then they sold the materials for scrap for pennies on the dollar. Once again our tax dollars being wasted and citizens being exposed to unvetted undocumented immigrants.

This administration claims they have slowed the border crossings. That is true but, they’re conspicuously quiet on how they now fly undocumented immigrants into the country bypassing the border crossings. That folks is what’s referred to as lies by omission.

— Chet Burum, Bonny Doon

On free speech and claim of ‘egregious criminality’

A letter writer on Sept. 10 wrote that “Trump will weasel out of the debate because of the public evisceration and lengthy prison sentences he so richly deserves due to his “egregious criminality.”

This is what our beautiful Constitution considers “free speech” and why our newspapers are allowed to print it. But sometimes the courts are brought in to determine that just maybe it isn’t free speech, the “egregious criminality” part I mean.

Let’s hope the writer isn’t selected for the jury should this happen as he’s already decided the outcome.

— Ronni Redmond, Santa Cruz

Trump’s statements again show why he’s unfit to lead

I can’t get through Marc Thiessen most days. But I was intrigued by “How Trump can knock Harris out of the race”(Commentary, Sept. 8).

I’d just read a column describing the Wisconsin rally Trump held where he claimed schools are performing gender-affirming surgery on children. “You’re a parent and your son leaves, and you say, Jimmy, I love you so much, go have a good day at school, and your son comes back with a brutal operation.”

“If you think you have a nice house, have a migrant enjoy your house, because a migrant will take it over. A migrant will take it over.”

“I will prevent World War III, and I’m the only one that can do it. I will prevent World War III. And if I don’t win … Israel is doomed. … Israel will be gone.”

He told the audience that when he took office in 2017, the military told him the U.S. had given all military ammunition away to allies.

This is a man anyone could believe could lead the nation?

— Susan I Stuart, Santa Cruz

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