Submit your letter to the editor by way of this manner. Learn extra Letters to the Editor.
Time to close down
quarry in Cupertino
In in the present day’s Mercury Information digital version there was a report on the plan to close down the Lehigh quarry and cement plant in Cupertino (“Quarry and cement plant could also be purchased and closed,” Web page B1, Feb. 11). That is the one manner that the inherent battle between the quarry and cement plant and its neighbors will be settled.
Over the previous 5 years that I’ve been concerned, the disputes have turn into extra egregious and, lastly, I see authorities and the plant house owners getting the message that there’s a greater method to function than persevering with down the trail of endless authorized motion.
The environmental impression of the plant instantly impacts the well being of all the group. We must always help these efforts to close it down.
Howard Strachman
Cupertino
State ought to focus
on groundwater tasks
Re. “Voter-approved state water tasks are making progress,” Web page A6, Feb. 10:
I applaud the Water Fee for utilizing Proposition 1 funding for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Growth and some small groundwater tasks. Nevertheless, three of the seven tasks transferring ahead are giant new dams/reservoirs that can inundate 1000's of acres of pristine open house with priceless habitats and cultural assets – Websites, Pacheco and Del Puerto Canyon Reservoirs.
At a time when our governor has set a purpose to guard 30% of our open house by 2030, these usually are not the precise tasks. For instance, Pacheco will destroy valuable sycamore and oak woodlands. It should additionally price billions of dollars, most of which will probably be paid by the residents of Santa Clara County.
Groundwater tasks are a lot cheaper and damaging and are the way in which to go. However sadly, only a few utilized for this funding.
Katja Irvin
San Jose
Greed drove sale
of venerable mall
Re. “Massive Peninsula mall is purchased for $300 million-plus, will turn into mega campus,” Feb. 10:
I don’t perceive why the Metropolis of San Bruno would permit this to occur, Tanforan has been round a really very long time. I maintain many fond recollections.
This can be a good instance of greed. Town accepted this due to the greenback indicators that went off for this kind of undertaking.
Disgrace on San Bruno and its elected officers who accepted this.
Jason Glines
South San Francisco
Refusing COVID vaccine
isn't a high-IQ transfer
Because the U.S. COVID loss of life toll approaches 1,000,000, I'm reminded of a Leonard Pitts commentary, through which he said: “Sometime, I’m going to die. This, I grudgingly settle for. … However this a lot I assure. I cannot die of getting wagered my life that TV carnival barkers, political halfwits, and folks in MAGA hats know greater than consultants. … In different phrases, I cannot die of silly.”
I do know it's going to by no means occur, however I’d like to see somebody do a correlational examine evaluating the IQ ranges of anti-vaxers and people vaccinated. I'd be keen to wager that the outcomes would present an inverse relationship between general intelligence and unwillingness to be vaccinated. Given what has occurred over the previous two years, I'd advocate that these anti-vaxxers who imagine that the vaccine will by some means modify or alter their DNA, ought to most likely see it as a optimistic alternative.
Jerry Krumbein
Palo Alto
Democrats deal in
denial, not actuality
The Democratic Nationwide Committee has turn into the “Neglect Actuality Get together” as a result of the Democratic Get together lacks any platform based mostly on actuality.
They preserve their members whipped up in a continuing state of rage and frothing by leaping from one manufactured disaster to a different.
Allow us to not overlook the three 1/2 years of the fake Russian collusion that the nation and the earlier president needed to endure.
I’m shocked that these hundreds of thousands on the left have such a brief reminiscence and fall for this juvenile ploy that enables the media to blast out headlines on issues not backed up by actuality or proof (within the case of the Russian collusion). The newest non-reality is internet hosting the Tremendous Bowl whereas nonetheless in a State Of Emergency requiring masks. Discuss hypocrisy. The media ought to do a greater job of utilizing the phrase “as a result of” adopted by proof slightly than opinions.
Alan Heimlich
San Jose
Spending Afghan funds
in U.S. will trigger sick will
America’ invasion of Afghanistan led to twenty years of conflict, introduced ignominiously to an finish final yr. The Afghan central financial institution had been holding a number of billions of dollars of reserves on deposit with the New York Federal Reserve Financial institution. These belongings haven't been made accessible for the restoration of the Afghan economic system. The results have been an acute money scarcity in Afghanistan; impoverishment of the Afghan individuals, lots of whom face hunger; and the near-collapse of the Afghan medical system.
President Biden just lately introduced that solely half of those belongings can be returned to Afghanistan, whereas the opposite half can be reserved for claims made on behalf of 9/11 victims (“Biden frees frozen Afghan funds for reduction, 9/11 victims,” Feb. 11). It appears to me that the 9/11 victims have already been compensated, at U.S. taxpayers’ expense; and that this determination is a egocentric error, one which dangers a resurgence of anti-American sentiment after we can least afford it.
Allen Carroll
San Jose