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Drought forcing cuts
to agriculture, too
We agree with loads of what was mentioned in The Mercury Information editorial on Jan. 9 (“State should cease burying head in winter snow,” Web page A12). The rain and snow this 12 months, whereas very welcome, isn’t sufficient but to get better from final 12 months’s dry situations.
Nonetheless, asserting that California farms haven't been subjected to water cuts is deceptive. Farms have seen their water allocations slashed because the starting of final 12 months. In reality, roughly 25% of California’s irrigated acreage obtained nearly no water allocation in 2021 and count on none this 12 months. It’s not doable to make use of lower than zero water.
The paper additional makes it sound as if farms use water only for the sake of utilizing it. Farms’ “thirst” for water turns into the meals we purchase on the grocery retailer.
California farms are pleased with the truth that we provide a protected, wholesome, and inexpensive meals provide and do it whereas decreasing water utilization by double-digits since 1980.
Mike Wade
Government Director, California Farm Water Coalition
Sacramento
State ought to reduce tax
on COVID take a look at kits
I lately purchased COVID take a look at kits from iHealth and was charged California state tax. I need to ask our state authorities, is it actually essential to cost state tax on COVID take a look at kits? It is a medical prevention package essential to make sure we don’t infect others.
When does it ever cease with the greed of California accumulating taxes? Anybody voting to extend any future taxes in California ought to suppose twice.
Here's a suggestion for Gov. Gavin Newsom – scale back the California gross sales tax on ready meals to assist struggling eating places throughout COVID. Take into account each time a restaurant should increase costs, on account of a rise within the minimal wage, it creates a better tax for the buyer.
Man Ferrante
San Jose
Not all take a look at scores
drop throughout pandemic
Whereas I respect the article on California take a look at scores throughout the pandemic, it might be nice to incorporate native information that's related for our neighborhood right here.
The take a look at scores at Branham Excessive College (a part of the Campbell Unified Excessive College District) really rose by 14% in ELA and eight% in Math from the final 12 months we examined (which was 2019, because the checks weren't administered in 2020). Whereas there may be undoubtedly room for enchancment, this can be a trigger for celebration — particularly since Branham college students and employees had been dealing with the challenges of distant studying for just about all the college 12 months.
Such constructive information about one in all our local people faculties might assist households to see a extra correct perspective on their kids’s and faculty’s success.
Bobbi Arduini
English trainer, Branham Excessive College
Campbell
Valley Honest parking price
fleeces clients
In reference to the article Westfield parking charges, (“Westfield Valley Honest mall to cost parking charges because it studies gross sales surge,” Web page B1, Jan. 10) Westfield administration says it’s going to cost charges for parking to discourage parking abuses at their mall.
That’s merely a smoke-and-mirrors try to make the buyer pay some hire to the mall property. Keep in mind when airport baggage carts had been free to maneuver your luggage? Then got here a modest cost to be used. Immediately the price of “renting” that cart is pricey. Extreme overcharging for short-term use for that comfort. That's what occurs with all cash-cow innovations. They begin small. Over time they stick it to you.
It’s time to cease fleecing the buyer. Object to free to fee-charging for client participation.
Al Miller
San Jose
With battle over, time
to shut Guantanamo
Now that the battle in Afghanistan is over will the prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay be launched and despatched dwelling?
Article 118 of the Geneva Conventions, to which the US is signatory, states the next: “When the battle ends, all POWs shall be launched and, in the event that they request, be despatched dwelling at once.”
The Guantanamo Bay Naval Base navy jail has been in operation for greater than 20 years with incarcerated human beings, many held with out being charged with a criminal offense. The jail on overseas soil makes a mockery of our authorized system. It's long gone time to shut the jail, abandon the bottom on Cuba and return management of Guantanamo Bay to Cuba.
Phillip Pflager
Cupertino
Open-source textbooks
may decrease faculty prices
Whereas faculty tuition has elevated at a charge of 260% from 1980 to 2014, the worth of faculty textbooks has elevated at an much more staggering 812%. Some college students spend upwards of $1,000 per quarter.
Up to now, college students have been in a position to economize by shopping for used or utilizing library copies. Publishers are actually stopping this by together with single-use entry codes with textbooks, that are required to entry on-line homework, quizzes and checks. Moreover, many on-line textbooks expire after a set time period, regardless of costing full value. This leads to many college students being unable to afford or entry the textbooks they want.
So as to treatment this problem, you will need to implement grant packages to encourage professors to transition to free, open-source textbooks. Universities resembling College of Massachusetts, Amherst have already applied such packages, and have seen improved pupil efficiency in consequence.
Brandon McClelland
Santa Clara