More horrors in Gaza, as US supports Israel’s war

I am an accomplice to cruelty.

On April 26, three generations of the al-Khour family were wiped out when Israel bombed their family home in the al-Sabra neighborhood, central Gaza. Twenty-two people — including 12 children — perished, their bodies blown apart and buried under the rubble, reported Drop Site News.

I look away from most of these reports. I know that the taxes I recently paid contribute to my government sending bombs, missiles and planes so Israel can do this horror.

In the past six weeks, at least 2,300 Palestinians have been killed — the equivalent of 50 people killed every day. Over 740 of the dead are children, the director of the Information Unit at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Zaher Al-Wahidi, told Drop Site News.

The acting head of office for OCHA, Jonathan Whittall, said in a statement. “This looks like the deliberate dismantling of Palestinian life.”

Anti-Palestinianism is the explicit military and security policy of the United States and Israel. In human terms, the mass murder of thousands of Palestinian families.

— Peter Klotz-Chamberlin, Santa Cruz

Op-ed on UK trans ruling was ‘wildly irresponsible’

I would like to inquire about your decision to publish a transphobic Guest Commentary by Lisa Smith (May 1) on the UK Supreme Court ruling.

I think it’s wildly irresponsible to promote positive coverage of one of the UK’s greatest regressions in civil rights since Section 28.

If you wanted commentary on it, why would you accept commentary from someone who doesn’t refer to trans women even as trans women but exclusively calls them men?

Your coverage of transgender issues, much like many newspapers in the U.S., has been lacking. Especially when covering the Trump administration’s actions, it’s frequently insulting to be included as a throwaway sentence in a multi-page article.

The Good Times received significant pushback in 2023 for publishing a letter to the editor regarding local issues; this going across the pond to discriminate against trans people is disappointing.

— Robyn Sycamore, Santa Cruz

Aromas turning out to protest Trump ‘injustices’

On April 19, there were the National Day of Action protests in Aromas, Watsonville, Santa Cruz and Monterey.

Our small town of Aromas had a great turnout. We raised our voices about the many injustices happening that are eroding our country’s democracy.

We are planning another rally for Saturday, May 3, from noon to 2 p.m. as part of the nationwide May Day Protests scheduled for May 1-3. It will be held at the Aromas Community Park at the corner of Blohm and Carpenteria. We think our numbers will be larger from the positive responses we have been getting from this grassroots organizing. We are standing for rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, and the Bill of Rights.

We hope you find this valuable and include our event in any story you have regarding the May 1-3 protests.

— Ginny Arguello, Aromas

‘Soviet-era style buildings’ don’t belong in Santa Cruz

No matter where I go when I travel people always seem to have that same knowing look when I tell them I’m from Santa Cruz. They think of beaches, and redwood forests, and the Boardwalk, and a downtown full of charm and character.

They do not think of the ugly, boxy, Soviet-era style buildings going in that lack any character.

C’mon, City Council and Planning Commission. For heaven’s sake, beef up your style game! We voted you in to represent us, not the developers making hay on these “architectural” disasters.

We need housing and the infrastructure to support it. Expediency does not have to come at the expense of our town’s character.

Demand that the developers build structures befitting of the aesthetic that honors the special character of our community since its inception.

— Patrick A. Meyer, Santa Cruz

Sentinel sports staff awards well deserved

Congratulations to award winners Jim Seimas and Raul Ebio. In a time of small staffs and tight newspapers, Seimas does an excellent job of providing lively and interesting sports coverage. Ebio’s photos bring the action to life.

The Sentinel is well served by both.

— Casey Tefertiller, Santa Cruz