No more battery plants, regardless of money

Alysm Energy’s CEO writes Moss Landing’s battery plant fire was “catastrophic” (Guest Commentary, Feb. 27).

Being a prime agricultural area, a world class marine sanctuary with a fairly healthy population it is critical water, habitat and soil testing continue to be conducted by resources with no political ties or jobs in either county.

Without this fire, three plants in our county’s planning pipeline would have been mostly unknown until their applications reached our Planning Commission. With some fees already paid and more coming would the county deny these applications? Are these plants expected be our financial savior?

Current income gaps require many working outside of town; on-site parking requires accommodating multiple cars per unit; the general citizenry copes with a decaying infrastructure.

Would our “money bind” be an issue had leadership ever initiated a major economic development campaign with high-level, experienced recruiters to bring in businesses paying good salaries and benefits?

Yet “no money” or not — no battery plants here now or ever! Re-group!

— Patti Brady, Santa Cruz

Trump’s bullying of Zelenskyy threat to security

I cannot exaggerate my distress while watching President Trump interacting with President Zelenskyy in the White House Friday. His behavior as a narcissistic bully was an embarrassment to our country. His tactics put our relationship with Europe at risk and threatened its security. We can only hope that cooler heads will prevail upon him to change course, but I fear the damage is done.

— Lars Laslett, Watsonville

A much better version of ‘Comedy of Errors’

KUDOS to Patty Gallagher as director of UCSC student play of Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors.” It was so very good — everything — it uplifted our Sunday afternoon. My grandson is becoming a Shakespeare fan too. So much better than our real life comedy of errors with the twin Trumps!

— Donna Hall, Soquel

Republicans silent before Musk/Trump reckless cuts

Republican stooges … er, I mean members of Congress, are now making noise about Musk’s (Trump’s) reckless cuts to government agencies. They understand that the cuts, such as to the FAA, make flying a gamble on your life, that cuts to the VA are an insult to our vets, that cuts to medical research are unwarranted and malicious, and that cuts to Medicaid harm those most in need just so their billionaires can have more.

And, yet, these stooges make a little noise and then back down and allow Musk and Trump to continue on their reckless and dangerous mission.

Trump promised voters he would Make Prices Affordable Again. He’s actually exacerbating the problem by implementing tariffs that will only cause prices to rise. He’s also planning, with his Republican stooges, to those who pick our lettuce, strawberries, etc., leading to both shortages and higher prices.

And, who of us asked for a president who would desert our allies and cozy up with despotic tyrants like Putin? And the Republicans stay silent.

— Scott Roseman, Santa Cruz

Trump wrong kind of ‘transformational’ leader

In a Feb. 20 letter, The author opines, “Trump is a once in a lifetime transformational figure.” Nonsense. Trump is a transformational monster.

In 2020, the University of New Hampshire published a study “Transformational leadership: An analysis of Adolf Hitler and his ability to charismatically connect with followers.” If you replace “Adolf Hitler’ with “Donald Trump,” you can see my point.

The author states, incredulously, “Our national debt is near national bankruptcy levels.” The author fails to realize the national debt increased by approximately $7.8 trillion under Trump 1.0. This significant rise was influenced by various factors, including tax cuts. The national debt increased by approximately $6.17 trillion under Biden.

The author also states that “inflation is here to stay.” He fails to realize that Biden brought inflation down from 9% to 2.4%, while inflation under Trump 2.0 has increased to 3% since he took office. With his planned tariffs, it is expected to rise sharply.

So, to the author, please stop drinking the Trump-Aid.

— Peter Gibson, Soquel