People of Gaza need to end Hamas’s police state

Once again Amy Goodman chooses to ignore history and provide Sentinel readers with half-truths (Commentary, Oct. 19). Israel did isolate Gaza, but only after Hamas began to lob thousands of rockets at her and threaten her border towns. Goodman forgot to mention that Egypt did the same. She called Gaza an open air prison, but does not want to mention that Hamas runs a police state where those who disagree with the leaders will end up in prison if not dead. Let’s not let Amy Goodman forget those 1,200 murdered Israelis and the remaining hostages whose lives were destroyed a year ago. Those people in Gaza did not have to die, but their leaders invaded a country and murdered and raped civilians. Many Gazans celebrated on Oct. 7, 2023 when hearing of their countrymen’s bravery of killing and raping music festival goers. The celebrations did not last long as the understandable response came.

The death of Sinwar will not end this war unless the people of Gaza want it ended.

— Gil Stein, Aptos

Sentinel caption omitted crucial post-quake leaders

It’s only been 35 years but how soon we forget.

Here’s a suggested caption for the Page 2 photo in the Oct. 17 paper: “Santa Cruz Mayor Mardi Wormhoudt surveys earthquake damage downtown flanked by U.S. Rep. Leon Panetta, left, California Gov. George Deukmejian, right, and Assemblymember Sam Farr, far right. Joining them are other local officials including Santa Cruz County Supervisor Jan Beautz, blue striped sweater.”

— Guy Lasnier, Santa Cruz

Legislators, not voters, should decide ballot issues

Every year I am bombarded with a large number of ballot initiatives that I must vote up or down. Frequently these are long and convoluted and have unexpected consequences for my community. I am reminded of Proposition 13 and the effect on school funding this has caused and the proposition that set up the state Insurance Commission and now has caused the cancelation of so many insurance policies.

I don’t believe our state is well-served by having the voting public try and wade through the arguments involved and I further wonder why our elected state legislators don’t decide these issues in Sacramento. If I don’t agree with what they do, I can then vote against them in the next election. They are supposed to spend all day reading these laws, not me, and I’m well aware of the potential for lobbyists to influence them but I still find the current system to be untenable.

— Marc Shaw, Ben Lomond

Will building electric cars bring more jobs in Mexico?

I just read in the San Jose Mercury News that the new administration in Mexico wants to build a Mexican-made small affordable electric car plant in Mexico for the Mexican market to compete with Chinese electric cars imported to Mexico.

Does that mean more jobs in Mexico for Mexicans trying to enter the U.S. illegally?

— Leonard Foreman, Santa Cruz,

Hypocrisy reigned, again, in Trump Coachella visit

Donald Trump was trying to reach the common folk as he traveled to Coachella, courting the votes of people in the Central Valley: farm workers, farm owners, workers, Latinos in a state that is traditionally blue. I am sure those hard-working folk didn’t mind at all forking over $5,000 for a ticket or $25,000 for a VIP ticket for couples just for an opportunity to listen to the same old stuff.

How to make the simple folk feel valued? Charge them an arm and a leg. All those America First, MAGA lovers at the rally looking for some Trump merchandise were probably able to find the ever-popular Trump bible that just happens to be made in China. Hypocrisy reigns in Trump world.

— Christine DeLapp, Aptos

‘Swing Left’ letters are sent to swing states

The recent letter complaining about Swing Left showed some misunderstandings of the project. The letters were sent to voters in swing states across the country as part of a national strategy. No letters were sent to Santa Cruz voters. The letters explain why we think it is important to vote. While you may dislike our name, surely encouraging people to vote shouldn’t be a liberal concept. At least, it didn’t used to be. I support democracy, voting rights, a woman’s right to choose and the ideals of our constitution. May the best woman win.

— Jane Eagan, Bonny Doon