Letters: Let’s spend money on the Bay Space’s biggest asset: nature

Put money into Bay Space’sgreatest asset: Nature

Re: “Bay Area needs unity to solve its problems” (Web page A9, Aug. 17).

I second Russell Hancock’s latest name for daring regional management on this interval of “federal ruckus.” As local weather impacts intensify, California should act now to construct local weather resilience for tomorrow — and for future generations.

Coyote Valley, simply south of San José, provides a mannequin for the way conservation and stewardship of nature can do this. Right here, protected pure and dealing lands present a buffer from catastrophic wildfires, floodplains recharge groundwater, wetlands take in rains to forestall downstream flooding, farmlands develop our meals and open area connects over a million acres of vital wildlife corridors. These aren’t simply ecological perks. That is important infrastructure.

Nature-based options to local weather impacts are cost-effective, scalable and rooted in fairness, defending all communities whereas enhancing public well being and biodiversity.

As Hancock wrote, let’s “put ourselves back in charge.” We are able to begin by investing in essentially the most highly effective device we now have: nature.

Andrea MackenzieGeneral supervisor, Santa Clara Valley Open Area AuthoritySan Jose

California ‘can do’high-speed rail

Re: “Should California’s high-speed rail continue?” (Web page A10, Aug. 17).

“Yes! California’s high-speed rail should continue,” is my reply to your query of Aug. 17.

I’m a transplant from New England. California had many issues of which to be proud. It’s by no means a time to create issues of which to be ashamed. All the explanations to try this undertaking are nonetheless legitimate. We nonetheless must wean ourselves off intrastate automobile and airplane journey, or at the very least, present various. That is nonetheless the environmentally pleasant factor to do.

I imagine the state should aggressively try to take away and mitigate obstacles and pointless burdens to the undertaking, to hunt better efficiencies, and proceed to combat for federal funding. I additionally assist continued state funding of $1 billion+ a yr till the undertaking is full, even on this time of escalating Trumponomics.

I all the time need California to be the “Can Do” state.

Bob GreeneMountain View

State’s redistricting planis a obligatory antidote

California’s redistricting (on the Nov. 4 poll) could also be criticized as a “partisan ploy.” Nonetheless, that ignores the existential menace to our democracy underway by Donald Trump.

The menace is way past partisan politics. At stake: whether or not we’ll have honest elections ever once more, on this nation.

Trump already tried a violent coup d’état (after attempting different unlawful methods to overturn the 2020 election). Upon returning in 2025, he pardoned the convicted felons of Jan. 6, and he has a inexperienced mild to commit some other crimes, due to the Supreme Court docket that he stacked in his first time period.

Now he’s blatantly rigging the 2026 election. What can be left of our democracy by 2028?

Madge StrongWillits

Gerrymanderingis nothing new

Re: “Democrats mull a return to state’s gerrymandered past” (Web page A6, Aug. 8).

I all the time thought the time period “gerrymandering” got here from the 80s when Gov. Jerry Brown began utilizing it in California.

Nonetheless, consulting with Webster’s dictionary, it got here from the early 1800s when Declaration signer Elbridge Gerry was governor of Massachusetts, and later vice chairman below James Madison. One of many carved-up voting districts he created regarded like the top, tail and 4 legs of a salamander. One other legislator coined the brand new phrase, gerrymander, as a substitute.

In any case, gerrymandering is nothing new.

Ron KnappSaratoga

Democrats, GOP mustpause rivalry and lead

The Democratic and Republican events lack the traits wanted to work collectively and to control our nation successfully. Their incapacity to steer and cooperate has brought about chaos, division and devastation.

Texas and California are taking steps to redraw their congressional districts in an effort to shift energy in Congress. As our nation’s identify clearly implies, the states that make up america have to be united. The truth is that the states are divided primarily based on the social gathering that controls every state. Ditto the Congress and Senate. In consequence, our nation has achieved sick will, division and hostility.

To construct unity and foster nationwide peace and concord, our state and nationwide leaders should finish their rivalries and their false perception that anybody from a special political social gathering is the enemy. Our leaders should work collectively — no matter social gathering — to control and unite this nation. There isn’t any different means.

Nick DellaportaSanta Clara

We should maintain ourheads in chaotic occasions

From Donald Trump’s demand for $1 billion from the California taxpayer-supported UCLA to the crackdown on the Smithsonian Museum to the declaration of a public security emergency in Washington, D.C., after the theft of a DOGE worker, the record by no means ends.

It’s regular to really feel despair below loopy circumstances. We should, nevertheless, be hopeful and do our greatest to withstand. For instance, let’s proceed to maintain ourselves knowledgeable, volunteer to assist with voter registration and be part of peaceable rallies. Taking all these actions doesn’t assure change, particularly within the quick run, but when we don’t do something, issues will definitely go from unhealthy to worse.

Florence ChanLos Altos