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Thompsonâs long record is worthy of reelection
Editor: Donald Trumpâs threats against California remind us of whatâs at stake in the midterms.
We need a fighter defending us in Congress. Thatâs why Iâm supporting Mike Thompson.
He passed tax credits that built over a thousand new affordable housing units in his district.
Thompson brought home nearly $100 million to rebuild after the 2017 fires, and last year he got $500 million in tax relief for wildfire victims in his district.
He went head-to-head with the Bush administration, sued them, and won when they tried to divert our water. His actions saved fisheries and water access.
Thompson helped pass the bill that gave extra money to struggling parents during COVID, bringing kids out of poverty.
And now heâs fighting Republicansâ plans to double health insurance premiums.
Thompson has had a number of highly competitive races over the years. Each time weâve chosen to send him back to Congress because heâs doing a great job for us.
His opponent is a wealthy venture capitalist. Heâs never held public office, and I doubt heâs ever voted in our community before.
Americansâ representation in Congress shouldnât be bought by an outsider with no record.
Iâm for Mike Thompson.
Cheryl Diehm, Santa Rosa
No more school taxes
Editor: Petaluma City Schools wants voters to approve Measure I, a parcel tax to fill its budget deficit. No!
The district already spends about $17,000 per student each year â a figure that rivals private school tuition. Yet district leaders want yet another handout from homeowners to help them bridge their budget gap. Thatâs not a revenue problemâitâs a management problem.
Homeowners are already burdened by soaring property taxes, insurance costs, and inflation. We canât raise our own âparcel taxâ when money runs short, and the district shouldnât either.
Responsible leadership means living within your means, like responsible adults do â not asking for bailouts from taxpayers every few years.
Before asking for more, Petaluma City Schools should explain how $17,000 per student isnât enoughâand why they canât operate effectively at that level. Fiscal accountability should come before new taxes.
Petalumaâs residents have done their part. Now itâs time for the district to do better with what it has. Figure it out without yet more taxes!
Vote No on Measure I.
Pablo Garcia, Petaluma
Trump administration is doing tremendous damage
Editor: Donald Trump and his appointees are doing tremendous damage to our democracy â dismantling our public health system and degrading our environment, for starters.
If you prefer drilling and burning to solar and wind power, we elected the right guy. If youâre concerned about overpopulation, you can support the elimination of life saving vaccines. Then you can bear witness to the death and disability of thousands of children from deadly but preventable diseases such as polio, diphtheria and tetanus (population control in the extreme).
Trump and his sidekick, Stephen Miller, have more plans for us, and most of them involve violence and the abuse of power. A few examples: sending federal troops in to Democratically led cities to quell fabricated violent uprisings; sending ICE teams to arrest and deport anyone who looks Hispanic; blowing up boatloads of suspected Venezuelan drug cartel members leaving nothing but flotsam and pieces of bodies; destroying the âenemy within,â which means anyone who speaks out against him.
Please donât think about what âsideâ youâre on, but that youâre an American who cares about this country and the survival of our democracy and our humanity.
Phyllis Brewer, Santa Rosa
Giving voice to opponents of Prop. 50
Editor: Iâm impressed by the Oct. 26 front-page article headlined âRural vs urban divide,â which gives a voice to some opposing Proposition 50 from rural California counties.
As a retired Illinois beef producer, I canât imagine backing an administration that cuts SNAP benefits or underwrites Argentinian growers with no consciousness of the effects on homeland interests â including the potential spread of hoof-and-mouth disease and other contaminants that should be no more welcome than wolves or other stateside wildlife.
Those who refuse to vote, of course, will leave the victory to those of us who exercise our franchise. But they may console themselves with having a voice in the press.
Patricia McMillen, Santa Rosa
Trump destroys historic East Wing
Editor: It is heartbreaking to see the destruction of our most historic building, the White House. Donald Trumpâs demolition crew has torn down a large portion of the East Wing to make way for a big, glitzy ballroom. No one gave him permission to do this.
Removing the Rose Garden and replacing it with a concrete patio is one thing but destruction of such a revered and sacred place is beyond understanding.
This is a metaphor for who Trump is. He considers no one but himself. He has systematically dismantled much of what made this country great. Our diversity, scientific research, education, renewable energy projects â the list goes on. All this while he ignores the government shutdown.
Just what does Trump have to do to motivate Republicans to rise up and say, âEnoughâ?
The White House does not belong to him, but does he care about such things? He is only a temporary resident, or is he trying to tell us something?
Joan Mc Auliffe, Santa Rosa
Money for Argentina, but not for struggling Americans
Editor: Forty billion dollars for Argentine farmers but no money for food support or health insurance for Americans.
And what are the billionaires getting in exchange for their $130 million to pay our troops and the $300 million for the Epstein ballroom at the White House?
Tom Pareto, Petaluma
A show of disrespect for the American people
Editor: While more than 7 million of our fellow citizens were exercising their First Amendment right to peacefully assemble and protest the actions of their government on No Kings Day, the head of that government was busy posting an AI-generated video of himself flying a fighter jet while wearing a crown and dumping excrement on the people he has sworn to serve.
Remind me again about how we must all respect the office of the presidency regardless of who occupies it. Donald Trump most certainly does not show respect for that office.
By the way, if anyone thinks this kind of behavior is harmless or humorous, they are definitely a part of the problem we face today with civil political discourse.
Mike Beavers, Santa Rosa