Liz Cheney flip-flops on support for Kamala Harris

The front page of the Sentinel Oct. 22 presented a rosy picture of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris hitting the swing states to hold “moderated conversations with Liz Cheney,” a former Republican congresswoman from Wyoming. The suggestion is that Harris not only presents being able to work with the GOP, but is also raising the importance of women in politics, a win-win.

Nowhere in the article is it mentioned that only four years ago Cheney punished Kamala with her own words on X: “Kamala Harris is a radical liberal who would raise taxes, take away guns & health insurance, and explode the size and power of the federal gov’t. She wants to recreate America in the image of what’s happening on the streets of Portland & Seattle. We won’t give her the chance.”

When did Cheney flip-flop and become a supporter of Harris? What are the Harris policies that Cheney now approves of? The unserious article only vigorously claims that Republican voters “should be patriotic,” like Kamala and Liz.

— Beth Ahrens-Kley, Santa Cruz

Trump’s record shows he’s a ‘career criminal’

How can anyone explain that the United States, a Christian nation according to many on the right, including a large majority of evangelicals, has close to half its population supporting Donald John Trump for president of the United States who is:

• a convicted sexual offender and convicted defamer, currently owing over $91 million in separate judgments;

• a financial fraudster convicted of 34 felony counts, currently owing $450 million in separate criminal judgments;

• a convicted falsifier of business records involving payment of hush money to silence a porn actress to enhance his pursuit of the 2016 presidency;

• a defrauder of Trump University students, and legally forced to shut down operations and pay $25 million in restitution;

• a Trump Foundation fraudster ordered by the New York attorney general to pay $2 million in restitution and then close;

• a bankrupter of six of his hotel/casino ventures.

DJT is a career criminal. A foul-mouthed one at that.

— Kevin McCarthy, Scotts Valley

Yes on Measure N to help Live Oak retain teachers

A Yes vote on Measure N supports continued high quality staff in Live Oak schools. In June, the Sentinel reported Santa Cruz is the most expensive rental market in the nation. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the gap between the wages of teachers and college graduates working in other professions grew to 26.6%, from 6.1% in 1996.

While housing has become vastly more expensive, teachers are earning less. The Live Oak district does not have the resources to adequately compensate our staff. New teachers in our county typically rent a room and work for 1-3 years, then move to an affordable area. School districts and staff spend time and resources training new teachers who then take those skills to a new district. In 2022, Santa Cruz City schools passed a bond to support teacher housing. To maintain quality staff in Live Oak we need to support their housing.

The No. 1 driver of a child’s education is their teacher. Help us hire and retain strong teachers by enabling our staff to live in this community.

— Kristin Pfotenhauer, Santa Cruz (President, LOSD board)

SLV Water board member wrong on fire preparation

In his letter of Oct. 8 supporting Monica Martinez, Bryan Largay, who has barely warmed the seat as an appointee on the board of San Lorenzo Valley Water District, comes in cold to district business yet touts himself an instant expert. His unattributed quote about lack of pressure to SLV fire hydrants is from a consultant report several years old, now out of date as most of the major capital projects recommended to remove restrictions and improve flow have been completed. Mr. Largay’s intention does not seem to be to inform, but to alarm.

Casting the district as being unprepared for “the next fire” is uncouth, as all our SLV fire districts and SLVWD staff do an amazing job. Their response to the CZU fire is legendary. All in the face of a system designed to fight structure fires, not wildland fires.

Political campaign fearmongering is unworthy of a director.

— Debra Loewen, Lompico Canyon