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Legislation offers
Hope against disaster
Last week, I visited the office of my California senator, Tim Grayson, and I urged him to vote yes on the polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act. This bill guarantees that the State has funds to combat the climate crisis – funds from polluters.
As a secondary school in Orinda, I try to maintain hope for the future, but when I read that my community has the potential for forest fires as serious as recent fires in Los Angeles, I fear for the future.
I remember when the poor air quality of the distant forest fires caused my sister to have trouble breathing. It forced my family to hide outside and created the fear of walking the dog, which could not wear a mask to protect themselves. There are thousands of stories like mine through the state.
Ayan Mohapatra
Orinda
Measurement
A yes of the voters
The grandes écoles make strong communities. Residents of Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga have always supported local tax proposals to ensure that our children have access to high quality public education.
Voting yes on measurement T provides locally controlled funding at LAS LAS LOMAS, ACALANS, CAMPOLINDO and MIRAMONTE high schools to prevent imminent cuts and make our high schools less dependent on unreliable and inadequate national funding.
I volunteer in our schools and with the Walnut Creek Education Foundation because I deeply care about the opportunity offered to our children in our local public schools. Solid local schools have prepared our students for success, improve our value of properties and strengthen our communities.
Vote yes on measurement T before May 6 to keep great teachers, high quality programs and various and rigorous lessons for our students.
Grant Katy
Walnut Creek
Can he deliver
with “more the same”
Re: “Barbara Lee elected the next mayor of Oakland, beating Loren Taylor” (page A1, April 19).
Oakland is prey to high crimes, many homeless people and a shortage of money. It has been managed by “progressive” democrats for years, and voters have apparently approved “more than the same” by electing Barbara Lee as the following mayor.
Of course, time will tell us how it works. Heaven knows that residents deserve better than their current situation.
Mike Heller
Walnut Creek
The ethics of the meta disappear
In the middle of the disinformation
According to the Meta investors’ relations website, their mission “is to build the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible”. This mission statement is not so subtle compared to the original Facebook mission statement “to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected”.
This change seems very close to a bait and change by which users who simply wish to share and communicate with their friends are now subject to a flow of content generated by algorithms which are mostly not interested or to see. Is this the future of human connection?
The future of human communication generated by false accounts, such as social bots, which flood the platform seeking to deceive Meta algorithms and thus propagate false and deceptive information?
Meta lost its ethical and moral compass. Meta should get up and reintegrate her original mission statement.
Lynne Weinshelbaum
Oakland
Houses need more
that a defensible space
Re: “Move to reduce the risk of fire for OK’D houses” (page B1, April 18).
Berkeley can mandate a 5 -foot clear area to alleviate the risk of forest fire. It is a question of helping to “harden” the structures against forest fires.
Cal Fire and others have a more complete list of measures they recommend, some “do it yourself” or inexpensive, others can be expensive. If your roof is worn and flees, Cal Fire recommends a fire resistant roof. If you can afford to replace your roof, it will improve your safety and give you peace of mind. Each hardened structure helps protect neighboring houses.
Read Cal Fire’s recommendations to understand the vulnerabilities of your home.
Roger Ecker
Alameda
California Daily Newspapers
