Letters to the Editor, Saturday Nov. 8

This post was originally published on this site.

A chutzpah prize for the president

Editor: A rough definition of the Yiddish word “chutzpah” could be audacity. The classic example has been a patricide defendant asking the court for mercy because he is now an orphan. A more recent example is Donald Trump asking the Justice Department (run by his appointees) for a $230 million settlement for the “harm” he suffered from prosecution for crimes for which, I believe, he was actually guilty: unauthorized possession of classified documents and attempts to overthrow the 2020 election (“Trump eying DOJ payday,” Oct. 22). He was rescued by his appointees on the Supreme Court who granted him immunity. Outrageous.

— Leland Davis, Santa Rosa

In Farm Bureau case, families and friends suffer too
Editor: How said that you must bring a good name into an article that the family was not involved in, instead of putting blame where blame is due (“Farm Bureau insider accused of stealing,” Oct. 29). Shame on you. Don’t you think this great family has endured enough? When people do bad things, it not only comes back at them but their family and friends as well. It is a mess that will affect all of us. Trust, respect and love have been turned upside down.
In the future maybe you should think about what you are writing. I have known this family since I was young. I traveled around the neighborhood selling tickets for our local fire department with the family’s grandfather. I babysat for the son’s children. I have watched all grow up in the community and work to make life better for everyone.
An apology to the family would be nice, as you have taken a good name in the community and dragged it through the dirt. You may have noticed that I didn’t mention their name, because once was enough.

— Lynda Carinalli, Sebastopol

Time for SMART to build overdue Jennings crossing

Editor: Thank you for your Oct. 19 article outlining the decade-long history of SMART and the Jennings Avenue crossing (“Rail crossing back on track?”) and for your Oct. 26 editorial urging SMART to quit stalling and reengage with Santa Rosa on a more balanced agreement to build the Jennings crossing (“Remove barrier at Jennings Avenue”).
The Press Democrat was right to point out SMART’s not-so-smart proposal for the city of Santa Rosa to assume all liability even when SMART is at fault. Many of us have written letters, attended meetings, met with California Public Utilities Commission officials, fielded petitions and spoken at meetings during the past decade. It is clear there is overwhelming support for this pedestrian crossing.
It makes sense in so many ways: it is a safer, quicker and environmentally friendly alternative to the trafficked rail crossings at West College Avenue and Guerneville Road. Our community needs this important west-east connection. With the Jennings neighborhood, the city, The Press Democrat and the CPUC all publicly demanding that SMART relent, it is time for SMART to let go of the excuses and the stalling and make way for this crossing to be built.

— Janet Barocco and Richard Heinberg, Santa Rosa

SSU plants peace tree, Trump calls for nuclear tests
Editor: Did anyone catch the irony when The Press Democrat published an article about the planting of the Hiroshima peace tree (“Peace pole, Hiroshima trees planted as SSU,” Oct. 30) at the same time Donald Trump was calling for the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing?

— Dave Ankrom, Cloverdale

Don’t believe White House claims about drug trafficking

Editor: The vast majority of cocaine and fentanyl arrive in the United Stats through the Mexican border, primarily through legal ports of entry, much of it smuggled by American citizens. So, please, let’s stop listening to and discussing the stories coming out of the White House about bombing boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific as fighting drug trafficking. The bombing of boats has clearly been against international law, is definitely murder and is totally appalling. Just another lame but horrific excuse for military action in some form yet to be clarified. Please apply similar logic to any story coming out of the White House.

— Karen Cooper, Hilo, Hawaii

You can email letters to the editor to letters@pressdemocrat.com.